Intercostal veins

The intercostal veins are a group of veins which drain the area between the ribs ("costae"), called the intercostal space.

Intercostal veins
Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left.
Details
Drains from	Intercostal muscle, intercostal space
Artery	Intercostal arteries
Identifiers
Latin	venae intercostales
Anatomical terminology

They can be divided as follows:

• Anterior intercostal veins
• Posterior intercostal veins
  • Posterior intercost vein that drain into the Supreme intercostal vein - 1st intercostal space
  • Posterior intercost veins that drain into the Superior intercostal vein - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces. The superior intercostal vein then drains into the Azygous vein.
  • Posterior intercost veins that drain directly into the Azygous vein - in spaces 5–11.
  • Subcostal vein—below bottom (12th) rib and also drains into the Azygous vein.

See also

• Intercostal nerves

External links

• Atlas image: abdo_wall70 at the University of Michigan Health System
• http://www.instantanatomy.net/thorax/vessels/vinsuperiormediastinum.html