In human anatomy

Human anatomy

Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...

, superior epigastric vein refers to a blood vessel

Blood vessel

The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...

 that carries deoxygenated blood

Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid in animals that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells....

 and drains into the internal thoracic vein

Internal thoracic vein

In human anatomy, the internal thoracic vein is a vessel that drains the chest wall and mamma, a term used for breast in anatomy....

. It anastomoses with the inferior epigastric vein

Inferior epigastric vein

In human anatomy, inferior epigastric vein refers to the vein that drains into the external iliac vein and arises from the superior epigastric vein...

 at the level of the umbilicus

Navel

The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...

 and drains the anterior part of the abdominal wall and some of the diaphragm.

Along its course, it is accompanied by a similarly named artery, the superior epigastric artery

Superior epigastric artery

In human anatomy, superior epigastric artery refers to a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood and arises from the internal thoracic artery...

.

External links

- "Veins of the lower extremity, abdomen and pelvis" - "Incisions and the contents of the rectus sheath." - "Venous Drainage of the Anterior Abdominal Wall"