Thoracic vein

Thoracic Vein

Diagram of the thoracic veins, from Gray's Anatomy.

The thoracic vein is a significant part of the human circulatory system. It is responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the thorax region of the body back to the heart.

Structure

The thoracic vein is divided into two main types: the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. The superior vena cava returns blood from the upper half of the body, while the inferior vena cava returns blood from the lower half.

Superior Vena Cava

The superior vena cava is formed by the left and right brachiocephalic veins, also known as the innominate veins. It also receives blood from the azygos vein.

Inferior Vena Cava

The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body. It is formed by the union of the left and right common iliac veins. It also receives blood from the lumbar veins, renal veins, and hepatic veins.

Function

The primary function of the thoracic veins is to return deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. This blood is then pumped to the lungs where it is oxygenated before being returned to the heart to be pumped out to the rest of the body.

Clinical significance

Understanding the structure and function of the thoracic veins is crucial in the medical field, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

See also

• Vein
• Vena cava
• Human circulatory system