Internal thoracic vein

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Internal thoracic vein
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Veins of the thorax and abdomen. The internal thoracic veins drain into the brachiocephalic veins.]
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Posterior surface of sternum and costal cartilages, showing Transversus thoracis. (Internal mammary vessels labeled at center top.)
Details
Drains from Superior epigastric vein
Drains to Brachiocephalic vein
Artery Internal thoracic artery
Identifiers
Latin vena thoracica interna
TA98 A12.3.04.018
TA2 4786
FMA 4729
Anatomical terminology

In human anatomy, the internal thoracic vein (previously known as the internal mammary vein) is the vein that drains the chest wall and breasts. [1]

Contents

Structure

Bilaterally, the internal thoracic vein arises from the superior epigastric vein, and accompanies the internal thoracic artery along its course. [1] It drains the intercostal veins, although the posterior drainage is often handled by the azygous veins. [1] It terminates in the brachiocephalic vein. [2] It has a width of 2-3 mm. [3]

There is either one or two internal thoracic veins accompanying the corresponding artery (internal thoracic artery). If internal thoracic vein is single, it usually runs medial to the artery. If there are double thoracic veins, they run on either side of the internal thoracic artery. [4]

Variations

Bifurcation of each internal thoracic vein is common. The left internal thoracic vein may bifurcate between ribs 3-4 or remain as a single vein. [5] The right internal thoracic vein may bifurcate between ribs 2-4 or remain as a single vein. [5]

Function

The internal thoracic vein drains the chest wall and the breasts. [1]

Clinical significance

Knowledge on the course of internal thoracic vein and artery is important during interventional procedures through the anterior chest wall such as biopsy and empyema drainage. This is to avoid puncturing the vessels and cause massive bleeding. [6]

Accidental placement of central venous catheter in the internal thoracic vein can cause pleural effusions, chest wall abscess, pulmonary edema, shortness of breath and chest pain. [6]

Other animals

Internal thoracic vein runs just lateral to the sternum. [7]

The internal thoracic vein can act as a collateral circulation for blood from the inferior vena cava to the superior vena cava. [7] This can work in either direction. [7] It may partially compensate for disturbances to blood flow. [7]

Additional images

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vein</span> Blood vessels that carry blood towards the heart

Veins are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and fetal circulations which carry oxygenated blood to the heart. In the systemic circulation, arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, and veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart, in the deep veins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Circulatory system</span> Organ system for circulating blood in animals

The circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, that consists of the heart and blood vessels. The circulatory system has two divisions, a systemic circulation or circuit, and a pulmonary circulation or circuit. Some sources use the terms cardiovascular system and vascular system interchangeably with circulatory system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brachiocephalic vein</span> Vein

The left and right brachiocephalic veins are major veins in the upper chest, formed by the union of the ipsilateral internal jugular vein and subclavian vein behind the sternoclavicular joint. The left brachiocephalic vein is more than twice the length of the right brachiocephalic vein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior vena cava</span> One of two veinous trunks bringing deoxygenated blood back to the heart

The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoracic duct</span> Lymphatic vessel

In human anatomy, the thoracic duct is the larger of the two lymph ducts of the lymphatic system. The thoracic duct usually begins from the upper aspect of the cisterna chyli, passing out of the abdomen through the aortic hiatus into first the posterior mediastinum and then the superior mediastinum, extending as high up as the root of the neck before descending to drain into the systemic (blood) circulation at the venous angle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulmonary vein</span> Veins that transfer oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart

The pulmonary veins are the veins that transfer oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. The largest pulmonary veins are the four main pulmonary veins, two from each lung that drain into the left atrium of the heart. The pulmonary veins are part of the pulmonary circulation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azygos vein</span> Human blood vessel by the spine

The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column draining itself towards the superior vena cava. It connects the systems of superior vena cava and inferior vena cava and can provide an alternative path for blood to the right atrium when either of the venae cavae is blocked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fontan procedure</span> Surgical procedure used in children with univentricular hearts

The Fontan procedure or Fontan–Kreutzer procedure is a palliative surgical procedure used in children with univentricular hearts. It involves diverting the venous blood from the inferior vena cava (IVC) and superior vena cava (SVC) to the pulmonary arteries. The procedure varies for differing congenital heart pathologies. For example in tricuspid atresia, the procedure can be done where the blood does not pass through the morphologic right ventricle; i.e., the systemic and pulmonary circulations are placed in series with the functional single ventricle. Whereas in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the heart is more reliant on the more functional right ventricle to provide blood flow to the systemic circulation. The procedure was initially performed in 1968 by Francis Fontan and Eugene Baudet from Bordeaux, France, published in 1971, simultaneously described in July 1971 by Guillermo Kreutzer from Buenos Aires, Argentina, presented at the Argentinean National Cardilogy meeting of that year and finally published in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdominal aorta</span> Largest artery in the abdomen

In human anatomy, the abdominal aorta is the largest artery in the abdominal cavity. As part of the aorta, it is a direct continuation of the descending aorta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atrium (heart)</span> Part of the human heart

The atrium is one of the two upper chambers in the heart that receives blood from the circulatory system. The blood in the atria is pumped into the heart ventricles through the atrioventricular mitral and tricuspid heart valves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulmonary sequestration</span> Medical condition

A pulmonary sequestration is a medical condition wherein a piece of tissue that ultimately develops into lung tissue is not attached to the pulmonary arterial blood supply, as is the case in normally developing lung. This sequestered tissue is therefore not connected to the normal bronchial airway architecture, and fails to function in, and contribute to, respiration of the organism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Internal thoracic artery</span> Artery of the thorax

The internal thoracic artery (ITA), also known as the internal mammary artery, is an artery that supplies the anterior chest wall and the breasts. It is a paired artery, with one running along each side of the sternum, to continue after its bifurcation as the superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coronary sinus</span> Set of veins which drain blood from the myocardium (heart muscle)

The coronary sinus is the largest vein of the heart. It drains over half of the deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle into the right atrium. It begins on the backside of the heart, in between the left atrium, and left ventricle; it begins at the junction of the great cardiac vein, and oblique vein of the left atrium. It receives multiple tributaries. It passes across the backside of the heart along a groove between left atrium and left ventricle, then drains into the right atrium at the orifice of the coronary sinus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inferior epigastric artery</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the inferior epigastric artery is an artery that arises from the external iliac artery. It is accompanied by the inferior epigastric vein; inferiorly, these two inferior epigastric vessels together travel within the lateral umbilical fold The inferior epigastric artery then traverses the arcuate line of rectus sheath to enter the rectus sheath, then anastomoses with the superior epigastric artery within the rectus sheath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior epigastric artery</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the superior epigastric artery is a terminal branch of the internal thoracic artery that provides arterial supply to the abdominal wall, and upper rectus abdominis muscle. It enters the rectus sheath to descend upon the inner surface of the rectus abdominis muscle. It ends by anastomosing with the inferior epigastric artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superior epigastric vein</span> Blood vessel

In human anatomy, the superior epigastric veins are two or more venae comitantes which accompany either superior epigastric artery before emptying into the internal thoracic vein. They participate in the drainage of the superior surface of the diaphragm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hepatic portal system</span> System of veins comprising the hepatic portal vein and its tributaries

In human anatomy, the hepatic portal system or portal venous system is the system of veins comprising the portal vein and its tributaries. The other portal venous system in the body is the hypophyseal portal system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Persistent left superior vena cava</span> Medical condition

In anatomy, a persistent left superior vena cava is the most common variation of the thoracic venous system. It is present in between 0.3% and 0.5% of the population, and is an embryologic remnant that results from a failure to involute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testicular vein</span> Blood vessel which drains one of the testicles

The testicular vein, the male gonadal vein, carries deoxygenated blood from its corresponding testis to the inferior vena cava or one of its tributaries. It is the male equivalent of the ovarian vein, and is the venous counterpart of the testicular artery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lumbar veins</span> Veins that drain the posterior abdominal wall

The lumbar veins are four pairs of veins running along the inside of the posterior abdominal wall, and drain venous blood from parts of the abdominal wall. Each lumbar vein accompanies a single lumbar artery. The lower two pairs of lumbar veins all drain directly into the inferior vena cava, whereas the fate of the upper two pairs is more variable.

References

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  2. Mozes, GEZA; Gloviczki, PETER (2007), Bergan, John J. (ed.), "CHAPTER 2 - Venous Embryology and Anatomy", The Vein Book, Burlington: Academic Press, pp. 15–25, doi:10.1016/b978-012369515-4/50005-3, ISBN   978-0-12-369515-4
  3. Stewart, Charles E.; Urken, Mark L. (2009), Wei, Fu-Chan; Mardini, Samir (eds.), "CHAPTER 18 - Deltopectoral flap", Flaps and Reconstructive Surgery, Edinburgh: W.B. Saunders, pp. 193–205, doi:10.1016/b978-0-7216-0519-7.00018-6, ISBN   978-0-7216-0519-7
  4. Jelicić N, Djordjević L, Stosić T (1996). "Unutrasnji grudni krvni sudovi (a. et vv. thoracicae internae) i njihov prakticni znacaj" [The internal thoracic blood vessels (internal thoracic arteries and veins) and their practical significance]. Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo (in Serbian). 124 (3–4): 58–61. PMID   9102819.
  5. 1 2 Singh G, Jayadev Magani SK, Sharma R, Bhat B, Shrivastava A, Chinthakindi M, Singh A (2019). "Structural, functional and molecular dynamics analysis of cathepsin B gene SNPs associated with tropical calcific pancreatitis, a rare disease of tropics". PeerJ. 7. e7425. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7425 . PMC   6778667 . PMID   31592339. "Table 1: The Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in cathepsin B protein mined from literature (PMID: 16492714)". PeerJ. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7425/table-1 .
  6. 1 2 Vollala, Venkata Ramana; Pamidi, Narendra; Potu, Bhagath Kumar (March 2008). "Internal thoracic vein draining into the extrapericardial part of the superior vena cava: a case report". Jornal Vascular Brasileiro. 7 (1): 80–83. doi: 10.1590/S1677-54492008000100015 . ISSN   1677-5449.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ricciardi, Mario; Casali, Alice (September 2020). "Internal thoracic veins: Anatomy, plasticity and clinico-imaging relevance in small animal practice". The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science. 82 (9): 1358–1365. doi:10.1292/jvms.20-0064. ISSN   0916-7250. PMC   7538324 . PMID   32713890.