The azygos vein is a unilateral vessel that ascends in the thorax to the right of the vertebral column, carrying deoxygenated blood from the posterior chest and abdominal walls. It forms part of the azygos venous system.
What is the function of azygos vein?
It is responsible for draining the thoracic wall and upper lumbar region via the lumbar veins and posterior intercostal veins 1. It also provides important collateral circulation between the superior and inferior venae cavae should they become obstructed 2.
What flows into the azygos vein?
The major tributaries of the azygos vein are the right intercostal veins (excluding the right supreme (first) intercostal vein that drains into the right brachiocephalic vein), the right superior intercostal vein (usually formed by the union of the second to fourth intercostal veins), the right ascending lumbar and
What does azygos mean in anatomy?
Azygos (impar), from the Greek άζυξ, refers to an anatomical structure that is unpaired. This is relatively unusual, as most elements of anatomy reflect bilateral symmetry.
What does azygos drain into?
The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column draining itself towards the superior vena cava.
Does everyone have a azygos vein?
Azygos lobe: This occurs in 0.4 to 1% of the population. One of the precursors to the azygos vein, the right posterior cardinal vein develops too far from the center of the body.
What is unique about the azygos vein?
Azygos vein is the vein that drains the venous blood from the upper part of the posterior abdominal wall and the thoracic wall. It is very important for the reason that it connects the superior vena cava with the inferior vena cava, and it has very few to no valves.
What is vena cava and aorta?
Definition. Aorta is the main artery of the body, which begins at the left ventricle of the heart. Vena Cava is the largest type of vein in the body, which drains deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart.
Where does the azygos vein drain blood from?
The azygos vein originates at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, entering the chest through the aortic hiatus. It ascends along the anterolateral surface of the thoracic vertebrae and arches ventrally to the right main bronchus at T5–T6, draining into the SVC.
Does the azygos vein carry deoxygenated blood?
In some instances, the azygos vein can travel in the midline along the top of the thoracic vertebrae. It carries deoxygenated blood forming a collateral pathway between the superior vena cava (SVC) and the inferior vena cava (IVC).
What is the main purpose of the inferior vena cava?
The inferior vena cava carries blood from the legs, feet, and organs in the abdomen and pelvis. The vena cava is the largest vein in the body.
What are the major branches of the vena cava?
Tributaries of the inferior vena cava
Lumbar veins.Right gonadal vein.Renal veins.Right suprarenal vein.Inferior phrenic veins.Hepatic veins.Common iliac veins.
How many superior vena cava are there?
The superior vena cava (SVC) is the superior of the two venae cavae, the great venous trunks that return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium of the heart. It is a large-diameter (24 mm) short length vein that receives venous return from the upper half of the body, above the diaphragm.
What is portal artery?
The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen to the liver. This blood contains nutrients and toxins extracted from digested contents.
Does azygos vein drain into superior vena cava?
Azygos vein
It enters the thorax via the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm and ascends posteriorly alongside the vertebral bodies, arching over the right main bronchus at T5-T6 and enters the superior vena cava (SVC) at T4 2.
