Axillary Vein

Origin

The axillary vein originates from the unification of the brachial veins with the basilic vein. This occurs at the inferior border of the teres major muscle.

Course

As the axillary vein course superiorly, it sits medial to the axillary artery. The axillary vein is divided into three parts in the same manner as the axillary artery (Moore et al., 2013). The first part sits proximal to the pectoralis minor muscle, the second part sits posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle, and the third part lies distal to the pectoralis minor muscle. The axillary vein continues superiorly to the external border of the first rib, where it is renamed the subclavian vein (Standring, 2016).

Tributaries

The axillary vein receives the brachial veins and basilic vein at its origin. It is then joined by the cephalic vein just inferior to the clavicle. The remaining tributaries roughly parallel the branches of the axillary artery, including the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral, subscapular, branches of the thoracoacromial, lateral thoracic, and superior thoracic veins. The axillary vein also receives the thoracoepigastric veins, which are formed from the vessels originating from the inguinal region uniting with the axillary region (Moore et al., 2013).

Structures Drained

The axillary vein contributes to the venous drainage of the scapular, axillary, pectoral, and brachial regions.

References

Moore, K. L., Dalley, A. F. and Agur, A. M. R. (2013) Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Clinically Oriented Anatomy 7th edn.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Standring, S. (2016) Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. Gray's Anatomy Series 41 edn.: Elsevier Limited.