Azygos vein

Vein: Azygos vein
Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries. (Vena azygos labeled at center.)
POSTERIOR VIEW: The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind. (Azygos vein labeled at bottom left.)
Latin	vena azygos
Gray's	subject #172 667
Source	superior intercostal vein
Drains to	superior vena cava
Precursor	Right supracardinal vein[1]
MeSH	Azygos+Vein

The azygos vein is a vein running up the right side of the thoracic vertebral column. It can also provide an alternate path for blood to the superior vena cava.

Structure

The azygos vein transports deoxygenated blood from the posterior walls of the thorax and abdomen into the superior vena cava vein. The anatomy of this blood vessel can be quite variable. In some rare variations for example, it also drains thoracic veins, bronchial veins and even gonadal veins. The vein is so named because it has no symmetrically equivalent vein on the left side of the body.

It is formed by the union of the ascending lumbar veins with the right subcostal veins at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, ascending in the posterior mediastinum, and arching over the right main bronchus posteriorly at the root of the right lung to join the superior vena cava. This "arch of the azygos vein" (arcus venae azygou) is an important anatomic landmark. As a rare anatomical variation, the arch can be displaced laterally, thereby creating a pleural septum separating an azygos lobe from the upper lobe of the right lung.

A major tributary is the hemiazygos vein, a similar structure on the opposite side of the vertebral column. Other tributaries include the bronchial veins, pericardial veins, and posterior right intercostal veins. It communicates with the vertebral venous plexuses.

Azygos venous system

The azygos system of veins is considered to be the azygos vein, along with its left-sided counterparts, the hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein. Together, they form an anastomosis between the superior vena cava to the inferior vena cava.

It can be noted that the azygos system of veins exists because the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are not continuous. While the aorta travels downward (continuously) through the mediastinum, supplying blood to the intercostal spaces, the vena cava does not exist at the level of the heart. Thus, the azygos venous system makes up for this deficiency of the venae cavae.

Etymology

The Greek root zyg refers to a pair. 'A-' means not. Thus, azygos means unpaired. The azygos vein is unpaired in that there is only one in the body, mostly on the right side. While there is the hemiazygos vein and its accessory on the left side of the body, they are considered tributaries of the azygos vein rather than its left-side equivalent.

This terminology is only accurate in some species, such as the human, dog and cat. Ruminants (such as sheep and cows) have paired azygos veins

Additional images

Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.	Transverse section of thorax, showing relations of pulmonary artery.	Base and diaphragmatic surface of heart.	The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.
The thoracic and right lymphatic ducts.	Mediastinal surface of right lung.

See also

• Hemiazygos vein
• Posterior intercostal veins
• Superior vena cava
• Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency

References

External links

• SUNY Figs 19:03-03 - "Right side of the mediastinum."
• Dissection at lumc.edu
• Radiology at umich.edu