Axillary vein

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Axillary vein
Gray576.png
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 D001367
TA98 A12.3.08.005
TA2 4963
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.

Contents

Structure

Its origin is at the lower margin of the teres major muscle and a continuation of the brachial vein. [1]

This large vein is formed by the brachial vein and the basilic vein. [2] At its terminal part, it is also joined by the cephalic vein. [3] Other tributaries include the subscapular vein, circumflex humeral vein, lateral thoracic vein and thoraco-acromial vein. [4] It terminates at the lateral margin of the first rib, at which it becomes the subclavian vein. [1]

It is accompanied along its course by a similarly named artery, the axillary artery, which lies laterally to the axillary vein. [5]

Additional images

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arm</span> Proximal part of the free upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow

In human anatomy, the arm refers to the upper limb in common usage, although academically the term specifically means the upper arm between the glenohumeral joint and the elbow joint. The distal part of the upper limb between the elbow and the radiocarpal joint is known as the forearm or "lower" arm, and the extremity beyond the wrist is the hand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brachial artery</span> Large blood vessel on upper limb

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the (upper) arm. It is the continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries which run down the forearm. In some individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier and the ulnar and radial arteries extend through the upper arm. The pulse of the brachial artery is palpable on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the tendon of the biceps, and, with the use of a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, often used to measure the blood pressure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brachial plexus</span> Network of nerves

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves formed by the anterior rami of the lower four cervical nerves and first thoracic nerve. This plexus extends from the spinal cord, through the cervicoaxillary canal in the neck, over the first rib, and into the armpit, it supplies afferent and efferent nerve fibers to the chest, shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axillary nerve</span> Nerve of the human body near the armpit

The axillary nerve or the circumflex nerve is a nerve of the human body, that originates from the brachial plexus at the level of the axilla (armpit) and carries nerve fibers from C5 and C6. The axillary nerve travels through the quadrangular space with the posterior circumflex humeral artery and vein to innervate the deltoid and teres minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subclavian artery</span> Major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle

In human anatomy, the subclavian arteries are paired major arteries of the upper thorax, below the clavicle. They receive blood from the aortic arch. The left subclavian artery supplies blood to the left arm and the right subclavian artery supplies blood to the right arm, with some branches supplying the head and thorax. On the left side of the body, the subclavian comes directly off the aortic arch, while on the right side it arises from the relatively short brachiocephalic artery when it bifurcates into the subclavian and the right common carotid artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deltoid muscle</span> Shoulder muscle

The deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the human shoulder. It is also known as the 'common shoulder muscle', particularly in other animals such as the domestic cat. Anatomically, the deltoid muscle is made up of three distinct sets of muscle fibers, namely the

  1. anterior or clavicular part
  2. posterior or scapular part
  3. intermediate or acromial part
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teres minor muscle</span> Muscle of the rotator cuff

The teres minor is a narrow, elongated muscle of the rotator cuff. The muscle originates from the lateral border and adjacent posterior surface of the corresponding right or left scapula and inserts at both the greater tubercle of the humerus and the posterior surface of the joint capsule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axillary artery</span> Large blood vessel bringing oxygenated blood to the thorax

In human anatomy, the axillary artery is a large blood vessel that conveys oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit) and the upper limb. Its origin is at the lateral margin of the first rib, before which it is called the subclavian artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medial pectoral nerve</span>

The medial pectoral nerve is (typically) a branch of the medial cord of the brachial plexus and is derived from spinal nerve roots C8-T1. It provides motor innervation to the pectoralis minor muscle, and the lower half of the pectoralis major muscle. It runs along the inferior border of the pectoralis minor muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoracodorsal nerve</span> Nerve that supplies the latissimus dorsi

The thoracodorsal nerve is a nerve present in humans and other animals, also known as the middle subscapular nerve or the long subscapular nerve. It supplies the latissimus dorsi muscle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subscapular artery</span> Large blood vessel

The subscapular artery, the largest branch of the axillary artery, arises from the third part of the axillary artery at the lower border of the subscapularis muscle, which it follows to the inferior angle of the scapula, where it anastomoses with the lateral thoracic and intercostal arteries, and with the descending branch of the dorsal scapular artery, and ends in the neighboring muscles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral circumflex femoral artery</span>

The lateral circumflex femoral artery is an artery in the upper thigh. It is usually a branch of the profunda femoris artery, and produces three branches. It is mostly distributed to the muscles of the lateral thigh, supplying arterial blood to muscles of the knee extensor group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral pectoral nerve</span>

The lateral pectoral nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus, and through it from the C5-7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suprascapular artery</span> Artery of the neck

The suprascapular artery is a branch of the thyrocervical trunk on the neck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Infratemporal fossa</span> Cavity that is part of the skull

The infratemporal fossa is an irregularly shaped cavity that is a part of the skull. It is situated below and medial to the zygomatic arch. It is not fully enclosed by bone in all directions. It contains superficial muscles, including the lower part of the temporalis muscle, the lateral pterygoid muscle, and the medial pterygoid muscle. It also contains important blood vessels such as the middle meningeal artery, the pterygoid plexus, and the retromandibular vein, and nerves such as the mandibular nerve (CN V3) and its branches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clavipectoral triangle</span>

The clavipectoral triangle is an anatomical region found in humans and other animals. It is bordered by the following structures:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prevertebral fascia</span> Layer of deep cervical fascia that surrounds the vertebral column

The prevertebral fascia is the layer of deep cervical fascia that surrounds the vertebral column. It is the deepest layer of deep cervical fascia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quadrangular space</span>

The quadrangular space, also known as the quadrilateral space (of Velpeau) and the foramen humerotricipitale, is one of the three spaces in the axillary space. The other two spaces are: triangular space and triangular interval.

The quadrigeminal cistern is a subarachnoid cistern situated between splenium of corpus callosum, and the superior surface of the cerebellum. It contains a part of the great cerebral vein, the posterior cerebral artery, quadrigeminal artery, glossopharyngeal nerve, and the pineal gland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axillary space</span>

The axillary spaces are anatomic spaces. through which axillary contents leave the axilla. They consist of the quadrangular space, triangular space, and triangular interval. It is bounded by teres major, teres minor, medial border of the humerus, and long head of triceps brachii.

References

  1. 1 2 Baker, Champ L.; Baker, Champ L. (January 1, 2009), Wilk, Kevin E.; Reinold, Michael M.; Andrews, James R. (eds.), "CHAPTER 27 - Neurovascular Compression Syndromes of the Shoulder", The Athlete's Shoulder (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 325–335, doi:10.1016/b978-044306701-3.50030-x, ISBN   978-0-443-06701-3 , retrieved November 3, 2020
  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, p.718
  4. Moore, Keith L. et al. (2010) Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 6th Ed, fig.6.16
  5. Gray, Andrew T., ed. (January 1, 2019), "Chapter 32 - Infraclavicular Block", Atlas of Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia (Third Edition), Elsevier, pp. 93–103, doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-50951-0.00032-3, ISBN   978-0-323-50951-0, S2CID   382483 , retrieved November 3, 2020