| Intercostal veins | |
|---|---|
 Intercostal spaces, viewed from the left. | |
| Details | |
| Drains from | Intercostal muscle, intercostal space |
| Artery | Intercostal arteries |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | venae intercostales |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The intercostal veins are a group of veins which drain the area between the ribs ("costae"), called the intercostal space.
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[edit]
External links[edit]
- Atlas image: abdo_wall70 at the University of Michigan Health System
- http://www.instantanatomy.net/thorax/vessels/vinsuperiormediastinum.html