Axillary vein

Axillary vein

Anterior view of right upper limb and thorax - axillary vein and the distal part of the basilic vein and cephalic vein.
Details
Drains from axilla
Source
 basilic vein, brachial veins, cephalic vein
Drains to subclavian vein
Artery axillary artery
Identifiers
Latin vena axillaris
MeSH A07.231.908.077
TA A12.3.08.005
FMA 13329

Anatomical terminology

In human anatomy, the axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla (armpit) and upper limb toward the heart. There is one axillary vein on each side of the body.

Its origin is at the lower margin of the teres major muscle and a continuation of the brachial vein.

This large vein is formed by the brachial vein and the basilic vein.[1] At its terminal part, it is also joined by the cephalic vein.[2] Other tributaries include the subscapular vein, circumflex humeral vein, lateral thoracic vein and thoraco-acromial vein.[3] It terminates at the lateral margin of the first rib, at which it becomes the subclavian vein.

It is accompanied along its course by a similarly named artery, the axillary artery.

Additional images

References

  1. ↑ Moore, Keith L. et al. (2010) Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed, p.718
  2. ↑ Moore, Keith L. et al. (2010) Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed, p.718
  3. ↑ Moore, Keith L. et al. (2010) Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed, fig.6.16

External links


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