Lateral thoracic vein
Encyclopedia
The lateral 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.
Axillary vein
In human anatomy, the axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla and upper limb toward the heart...
. It runs with the lateral thoracic artery
Lateral thoracic artery
In human anatomy, the lateral thoracic artery is a blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the lateral structures of the thorax and breast....
and drains the Serratus anterior muscle
Serratus anterior muscle
The serratus anterior is a muscle that originates on the surface of the upper eight or nine ribs at the side of the chest and inserts along the entire anterior length of the medial border of the scapula.-Origin:...
and the Pectoralis major muscle
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
.
Normally, the thoracoepigastric vein
Thoracoepigastric vein
A vein, named the thoracoepigastric, runs along the lateral aspect of the trunk between the superficial epigastric vein below and the lateral thoracic vein above and establishes an important communication between the femoral vein and axillary vein. This is an especially important vein when the...
exists between this vein and superficial epigastric vein
Superficial epigastric vein
The superficial epigastric vein is a vein which travels with the superficial epigastric artery. It joins the accessory saphenous vein near the fossa ovalis.-External links: - "Anterior Abdominal Wall: Blood Vessels in the Superficial Fascia"...
(a tributary of femoral vein
Femoral vein
In the human body, the femoral vein is a blood vessel that accompanies the femoral artery in the femoral sheath. It begins at the adductor canal and is a continuation of the popliteal vein...
), to act as a shunt for blood if the portal system (through the liver) develops hypertension or a blockage.