The lateral thoracic vein (sometimes debatably referred to as the long thoracic vein) is a tributary of the axillary vein. It runs with the lateral thoracic artery and drains the serratus anterior muscle and the pectoralis major muscle.
| Lateral thoracic vein | |
|---|---|
 The veins of the right axilla, viewed from in front. (Lateral thoracic vein not labeled but region is visible.) | |
| Details | |
| Drains to | Axillary vein |
| Artery | Lateral thoracic artery |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | vena thoracica lateralis |
| TA98 | A12.3.08.011 |
| TA2 | 4971 |
| FMA | 71210 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Normally, the thoracoepigastric vein exists between this vein and superficial epigastric vein (a tributary of femoral vein), to act as a shunt for blood if the portal system (through the liver) develops hypertension or a blockage.
External links
edit- Atlas image: abdo_wall76 at the University of Michigan Health System - "Venous Drainage of the Anterior Abdominal Wall"
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