Azygous system of veins (dave's notes) Flashcards
What drains into the azygous vein? Via what veins?
The thoracic wall and upper lumbar region are drained by the posterior intercostal and lumbar veins into the azygous
Describe the azygous system of veins
There are longitudinal trunks on the left and right. The right is a single trunk, the left becomes divided.
What is the developmental name of the azygous vein?
It is the persistent right posterior cardinal vein
How does the azygous vein enter the thorax?
Goes throughout the aortic opening, posterior to the oesophagus
Where is the functional beginning of the azygous?
At the union of the ascending lumbar veins and the subcostal vein on the right side.
Where does the azygous drain to?
To the SVC at T4
Describe the course of the Azygous
Travels through the aortic opening, passing upward on the vertebral bodies on a plane posterior to that of the oesophagus, and arches over the right main bronchus to enter the SVC at T4
What does the azygous receive?
The lower 8 posterior intercostal veins
The right superior intercostal vein at its convexity
Bronchial veins from the right lung
Veins from the middle third of the oesphagus
Describe the hemiazygous veins
The lower vein is the hemiazygous. The upper is the accessory hemiazygous. Each lies longitudinally on the left side of the vertebrae.
What do the hemiazygous and accessory hemiazygous veins both receive?
The lower 8 posterior intercostal veins (four each)
What does the hemiazygous receive?
The lowest four posterior intercostal veins
What does the accessory hemiazygous vein receive?
The bronchial veins from the left lung, veins from the middle third of the oesophagus, and the middle 4 posterior intercostal veins
Where does the accessory hemiazygous and the hemiazygous veins join the azygous?
At T8 and T9
