Axillary vein
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Vein: Axillary vein | ||
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Anterior view of right upper limb and thorax - axillary vein and the distal part of the basilic vein and cephalic vein. | ||
Latin | v. axillaris | |
Gray's | subject #172 | |
Drains from | basilic vein, cephalic vein | |
Drains to | subclavian vein | |
Artery | axillary artery | |
MeSH | A07.231.908.077 |
In human anatomy, the axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla (armpit) and upper limb toward the heart. There is one axillary vein on each side of the body.
Its origin is at the lower margin of the teres major muscle and a continuation of the brachial vein.
Its tributaries include the basilic vein and cephalic vein, which are both superficial veins. It terminates at the lateral margin of the first rib, at which it becomes the subclavian vein.
It is accompanied along its course by a similarly named artery, the axillary artery.