Superior intercostal vein
Encyclopedia
The superior intercostal veins are two veins that drain the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces, one vein for each side of the body.
on the right side of the body. It flows into the azygos vein
.
on the left side of the body. It drains into the left brachiocephalic vein
. It may also communicate with the accessory hemiazygos vein
.
As it passes posteriorly above the aortic arch
, it crosses deep to the phrenic nerve
and the pericardiacophrenic vessels and then superficial to the vagus nerve
.
Right superior intercostal vein
The right superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th posterior intercostal veinsPosterior intercostal veins
The posterior intercostal veins are veins that drain the intercostal spaces posteriorly. They run with their corresponding posterior intercostal artery on the underside of the rib, the vein superior to the artery. Each vein also gives off a dorsal branch that drains blood from the muscles of the...
on the right side of the body. It flows into the azygos vein
Azygos vein
The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column. It can also provide an alternate path for blood to the right atrium by allowing the blood to flow between the venae cavae when one vena cava is blocked.-Structure:...
.
Left superior intercostal vein
The left superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd and 3rd posterior intercostal veinsPosterior intercostal veins
The posterior intercostal veins are veins that drain the intercostal spaces posteriorly. They run with their corresponding posterior intercostal artery on the underside of the rib, the vein superior to the artery. Each vein also gives off a dorsal branch that drains blood from the muscles of the...
on the left side of the body. It drains into the left brachiocephalic vein
Brachiocephalic vein
The left and right brachiocephalic veins in the upper chest are formed by the union of each corresponding internal jugular vein and subclavian vein...
. It may also communicate with the accessory hemiazygos vein
Accessory hemiazygos vein
The accessory hemiazygos vein is a vein on the left side of the vertebral column that generally drains the fifth through eighth intercostal spaces on the left side of the body.-Structure:...
.
As it passes posteriorly above the aortic arch
Aortic arch
The arch of the aorta or the transverse aortic arch is the part of the aorta that begins at the level of the upper border of the second sternocostal articulation of the right side, and runs at first upward, backward, and to the left in front of the trachea; it is then directed backward on the left...
, it crosses deep to the phrenic nerve
Phrenic nerve
The phrenic nerve originates mainly from the 4th cervical nerve, but also receives contributions from the 5th and 3rd cervical nerves in humans....
and the pericardiacophrenic vessels and then superficial to the vagus nerve
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
.