Axillary vein
The axillary vein is one of the major veins of the upper limb. It is formed by the union of the paired brachial veins and the basilic vein and contributes to the drainage of the axilla, arm and superolateral chest wall.
Summary
- origin: formed by the union of the paired brachial veins and the basilic vein
- location: courses medial to the axillary artery in the axilla
- drainage: upper limb, axilla and superolateral chest wall
- tributaries: include the cephalic vein and five other tributaries which correspond to the branches of the axillary artery (see below)
- termination: continuous with the subclavian vein at the lateral border of the first rib
Gross anatomy
Origin
The axillary vein is formed at the inferior border of the axilla by the union of the paired brachial veins (venae comitantes of the brachial artery) and the basilic vein 1,2.
Course
The axillary vein arises at the inferior border of the teres major muscle at the inferior border of the axilla 3. The vein ascends through the axilla medial to the axillary artery and then courses anterior to the subclavian artery to leave the axilla at its apex. It then passes in front of the scalenus anterior 1, where it becomes continuous with the subclavian vein at the lateral border of the first rib 2.
Divisions
As with the axillary artery, the axillary vein can be divided into three parts by its relation to the pectoralis minor (above, behind or below) 1.
Tributaries
The second and third parts of the axillary vein have tributaries that correspond with the branches of the axillary artery. These include the thoracoacromial vein, lateral thoracic vein, subscapular vein, anterior circumflex humeral vein and posterior circumflex humeral vein.
The cephalic vein is a tributary of the first part of the axillary vein (above the pectoralis minor) and enters the vein after piercing the clavipectoral fascia 1.
Termination
The axillary vein terminates by becoming continuous with the subclavian vein at the lateral border of the first rib 2.
Drainage
The axillary vein drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, axilla and superolateral chest wall 4. It also receives contributions from the thoracoepigastric vein of the anterolateral abdominal wall 5.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Upper limb
-
skeleton of the upper limb
- clavicle
- scapula
- humerus
- radius
- ulna
- carpal bones (mnemonic)
- metacarpals
- phalanges
- accessory ossicles of the upper limb
- accessory ossicles of the shoulder
- accessory ossicles of the elbow
-
accessory ossicles of the wrist (mnemonic)
- os centrale carpi
- os epilunate
- os epitriquetrum
- os styloideum
- os hamuli proprium
- lunula
- os triangulare
- trapezium secondarium
- os paratrapezium
- os radiostyloideum (persistent radial styloid)
- joints of the upper limb
-
pectoral girdle
-
shoulder joint
- articulations
- associated structures
- joint capsule
- bursae
- ligaments
-
movements
- scapulothoracic joint
- glenohumeral joint
- arm flexion
- arm extension
- arm abduction
- arm adduction
- arm internal rotation (medial rotation)
- arm external rotation (lateral rotation)
- circumduction
- blood supply - scapular anastomosis
- ossification centers
-
shoulder joint
-
elbow joint
- proximal radioulnar joint
- ligaments
- associated structures
- movements
- alignment
- blood supply - elbow anastomosis
- development
-
wrist joint
- articulations
-
ligaments
- intrinsic ligaments
- extrinsic ligaments
- radioscaphoid ligament
- dorsal intercarpal ligament
- dorsal radiotriquetral ligament
- dorsal radioulnar ligament
- volar radioulnar ligament
- radioscaphocapitate ligament
- long radiolunate ligament
- Vickers ligament
- short radiolunate ligament
- ulnolunate ligament
- ulnotriquetral ligament
- ulnocapitate ligament
- ulnar collateral ligament
- associated structures
- extensor retinaculum
- flexor retinaculum
- joint capsule
- movements
- alignment
- ossification centers
-
hand joints
- articulations
- carpometacarpal joint
-
metacarpophalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
-
interphalangeal joints
- palmar ligament (plate)
- collateral ligament
- movements
- ossification centers
- articulations
-
pectoral girdle
- spaces of the upper limb
- muscles of the upper limb
- shoulder girdle
- anterior compartment of the arm
- posterior compartment of the arm
- anterior compartment of the forearm
-
posterior compartment of the forearm (extensors)
- superficial
- deep
- hand (mnemonic)
- accessory muscles
- blood supply to the upper limb
-
arteries
- subclavian artery (mnemonic)
- axillary artery
- brachial artery (proximal portion)
- ulnar artery
- radial artery
- veins
-
arteries
- innervation of the upper limb
- intercostobrachial nerve
-
brachial plexus (mnemonic)
- branches from the roots
- branches from the trunks
- branches from the cords
- lateral cord
- posterior cord
- medial cord
- terminal branches
- lymphatic drainage of the upper limb