The hemiazygos vein helps to drain the left mediastinum and left lower esophagus. The hemiazygos vein crosses from left to right at approximately the level of T9 and terminates by emptying into the azygos vein. The accessory hemiazygos vein connects the middle three or four intercostal veins.

What empties into the hemiazygos vein?

Gross anatomy The accessory hemiazygos vein is formed by the confluence of the middle left posterior intercostal veins. It descends to the left of midline, adjacent to the thoracic vertebrae and crosses posteriorly to the aorta at the level of T7-8 to drain into the azygos vein.

Where does hemiazygos vein terminate?

The accessory hemiazygos vein usually crosses the midline and terminates by draining into the azygos vein at the level of the T7 vertebra.

Where does Musculophrenic vein drain?

Any of the veins that accompany the musculophrenic artery and drain blood from the upper abdominal wall, the lower intercostal spaces, and the diaphragm.

What is the function of the hemiazygos and accessory hemiazygos veins?

That is, the azygos vein serves to drain most of the posterior intercostal veins on the right side of the body, and the hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein drain most of the posterior intercostal veins on the left side of the body.

What does hemiazygos mean?

Medical Definition of hemiazygos vein : a vein that receives blood from the lower half of the left thoracic wall and the left abdominal wall, ascends along the left side of the spinal column, and empties into the azygos vein near the middle of the thorax.

What does accessory hemiazygos drain into?

The accessory hemiazygos vein, also called the superior hemiazygos vein, drains the superior left hemithorax. In a majority of cases there is a small connection to the left superior intercostal vein, and rarely, 1–2% of the time, the accessory hemiazygos vein drains into the brachiocephalic vein [3].

How does the hemiazygos vein enter the thorax?

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.

Where does accessory hemiazygos drain into?

brachiocephalic vein
The accessory hemiazygos vein, also called the superior hemiazygos vein, drains the superior left hemithorax. In a majority of cases there is a small connection to the left superior intercostal vein, and rarely, 1–2% of the time, the accessory hemiazygos vein drains into the brachiocephalic vein [3].

What drains into the superior vena cava?

The superior vena cava (SVC, also known as the cava or cva) is a short, but large diameter vein located in the anterior right superior mediastinum….Superior vena cava.

What is musculophrenic?

Definition of musculophrenic : supplying the muscles of the body wall and the diaphragm musculophrenic nerve musculophrenic blood vessel.

What does the Musculophrenic artery supply?

The musculophrenic artery runs along the costal slips of the diaphragm. It supplies the 7th, 8th and 9th intercostal spaces with paired anterior intercostal arteries, as well as fine branches that supply the superior part of the anterior abdominal wall.

Where does the hemiazygos vein drain?

The hemiazygos vein arises from the left ascending lumbar vein. It drains the lower left posterior intercostal veins and ascends on the vertebral bodies posterolateral to the descending aorta. At T8, it crosses to the right behind the aorta, thoracic duct, and esophagus, and joins the azygos vein.

Where does the accessory hemiazygos vein anastomose?

The accessory hemiazygos vein is formed by the confluence of the middle left posterior intercostal veins. It descends to the left of midline, adjacent to the thoracic vertebrae and crosses posteriorly to the aorta at the level of T7-8 to drain into the azygos vein. It normally anastomoses with the left superior intercostal vein. Tributaries.

How do you spell hemiazygos vein?

In the context of anatomy, see Terminologia Anatomica, hemiazygos vein is the sole correct spelling. The hemiazygos vein is formed by the confluence of the left ascending lumbar and left subcostal veins. The hemiazygos vein enters the thorax either through the aortic hiatus or directly through the diaphragmatic crura.

What are the tributaries of the hemiazygos?

Along the way, the hemiazygos vein receives several tributaries including: Inferior three left posterior intercostal veins, which help to drain the muscles and skin of the posterior trunk, as well as the vertebral column. Mediastinal veins, which help to empty the mediastinum.