Superior intercostal vein

The superior intercostal veins are two veins that drain the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces, one vein for each side of the body.

Superior intercostal vein
Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left
Details
Source	Posterior intercostal veins #2, #3, and #4
Drains to	Azygos vein, brachiocephalic vein
Artery	Intercostal arteries
Identifiers
Latin	Vena intercostalis superior dextra, vena intercostalis superior sinistra
TA98	A12.3.04.024 A12.3.07.003
TA2	4749, 4798
FMA	4797
Anatomical terminology

Right superior intercostal vein

The right superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th posterior intercostal veins on the right side of the body. It flows into the azygos vein.[1][2]

Left superior intercostal vein

The left superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd and 3rd posterior intercostal veins on the left side of the body. It usually drains into the left brachiocephalic vein.[1][2] It may also communicate with the accessory hemiazygos vein.[2]

As it passes posteriorly above the aortic arch, it crosses deep to the phrenic nerve and the pericardiacophrenic vessels and then superficial to the vagus nerve.

See also

• Supreme intercostal vein
• Posterior intercostal veins

References

1. Badiei, Arash; Gregor, Alexander; Yasufuku, Kazuhiro; Lee, Y. C. Gary (2019-01-01), "Pleural Effusion: Hemothorax", Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, Elsevier, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801238-3.11383-2, ISBN 978-0-12-801238-3, retrieved 2020-11-23
2. Mozes, GEZA; Gloviczki, PETER (2007-01-01), 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, retrieved 2020-11-23

External links

• "Left superior intercostal vein" at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
• Anatomy photo:21:12-0105 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - The Azygos Vein and Posterior Intercostal Veins