Lateral thoracic vein

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Lateral thoracic vein
Gray576.png
The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. (Lateral thoracic vein not labeled but region is visible.)
Details
Drains to Axillary vein
Artery Lateral thoracic artery
Identifiers
Latin vena thoracica lateralis
TA98 A12.3.08.011
TA2 4971
FMA 71210
Anatomical terminology

The lateral thoracic vein (sometimes debatably referred to as the long thoracic vein) is a tributary of the axillary vein. It runs with the lateral thoracic artery and drains the serratus anterior muscle and the pectoralis major muscle.

Normally, the thoracoepigastric vein exists between this vein and superficial epigastric vein (a tributary of femoral vein), to act as a shunt for blood if the portal system (through the liver) develops hypertension or a blockage.


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