blood vessels

Question 1

what are the arteries of the thoracic wall?

Answer 1

• subclavian artery
• vertebral artery
• thyrocervical trunk
• costocervical trunk
• internal thoracic artery

Question 2

where does the internal thoracic artery begin and end

Answer 2

• lies along the margins of the sternum
• terminates as the superior epigastric and musculophrenic arteries

Question 3

where will you find the thoracic aorta

Answer 3

between T4/T5-T12

Question 4

what are the 3 parietal branches of the thoracic aorta?

Answer 4

• 3rd-11th posterior intercostal arteries
• subcostal artery
• superior phrenic artery

Question 5

how many anterior intercostal arteries are there in spaces 1-6?

Answer 5

2 per space

Question 6

between ribs 7-11, what are the anterior intercostal arteries branches of?

Answer 6

musculophrenic artery

Question 7

where has no anterior artery supply?

Answer 7

the 11th intercostal space and subcostal area

Question 8

describe the venous drainage of the thoracic wall?

Answer 8

• anterior intercostal veins drain to the internal thoracic vein then to brachiocephalic vein
• the posterior intercostal veins drain either to the brachiocephalic vein or to the superior vena cava via azygos system

Question 9

where does the azygos system drain?

Answer 9

drains the posterior wall of the thorax and part of the posterior abdominal wall

Question 10

what is the pathway of the azygos system like?

Answer 10

• begins from lumbar and subcostal veins and it is a direct branch of the inferior vena cava
• it passes behind the diaphragm with the aorta and thoracic duct
• ascends in the posterior mediastinum, passes posterior to the right lung hilum and arches open into the superior vena cava
• the azygos system connects the superior and inferior vena cava.

Question 11

describe the right nd left superior intercostal veins?

Answer 11

• drains spaces 2-4
• the right drains to azygous near its arch
• left drains to left brachiocephalic vein anteriorly

Question 12

describe the right and left supreme intercostal veins?

Answer 12

• drains rib space 1
• drains to brachiocephalic vein

Question 13

what are the connections of the hemiazygous veins?

Answer 13

has connections with the left renal vein

Question 14

where does the anterior intercostal veins drain to?

Answer 14

they drain to the internal thoracic vein which drains into the brachiocephalic vein.

Question 15

where does the posterior intercostal veins drain to?

Answer 15

either:
- brachiocephalic vein
- superior vena cava via the azygos system