Jump to content

Lateral thoracic vein

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lateral thoracic vein
The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. (Lateral thoracic vein not labeled but region is visible.)
Details
Drains toAxillary vein
ArteryLateral thoracic artery
Identifiers
Latinvena thoracica lateralis
TA98A12.3.08.011
TA24971
FMA71210
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.

[edit]