What are intercostal veins?
Table of Contents
What are intercostal veins?
The intercostal veins are a group of veins which drain the area between the ribs (“costae”), called the intercostal space.
What is the function of intercostal arteries?
The intercostal arteries are a group of arteries that supply the area between the ribs (“costae”), called the intercostal space.
What do the intercostal veins drain?
The posterior intercostal veins drain into the azygos vein (right side), and hemiazygos and accessory hemiazygos veins (left side). The latter two veins ultimately drain into the azygos vein. The azygos vein then drains into the superior vena cava.
Where are intercostal veins found?
Internal thoracic vein The internal thoracic veins accompany the internal thoracic arteries. They unite at about the third costal cartilage to form a single internal intercostal vein that is medial to the accompanying artery.
How many intercostal veins are there?
(Intercostals visible at right.) There are eleven posterior intercostal veins on each side. Their patterns are variable, but they are commonly arranged as: The 1st posterior intercostal vein, supreme intercostal vein, drains into the brachiocephalic vein or the vertebral vein.
What is superior intercostal veins?
The superior intercostal veins are two veins that drain the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces, one vein for each side of the body.
Where do anterior intercostal veins drain into?
The anterior intercostal veins originate from the intercostal space just inferior to anterior aspects of their respective ribs and drain into the internal thoracic and musculophrenic veins.
Where does the first intercostal vein drain into?
brachiocephalic vein
The 1st posterior intercostal vein, supreme intercostal vein, drains into the brachiocephalic vein or the vertebral vein.
Where is the posterior intercostal vein?
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 back.
