What are the functions of the azygos thee hemiazygos and the 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 is the accessory hemiazygos vein?

The accessory hemiazygos vein, also called the superior hemiazygous vein, is a vein on the left side of the vertebral column that generally drains the fourth through eighth intercostal spaces on the left side of the body.
What does hemiazygos mean?
noun. : 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 the hemiazygos drain?
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.

Where does the accessory hemiazygos vein 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 is accessory hemiazygos vein formed?
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 drain?
Where is accessory hemiazygos vein located?
Where is the azygos and hemiazygos veins located?
The azygos venous system is located on either side of the vertebral column and drains the viscera within the mediastinum, as well as the back and thoracoabdominal walls. This system consists of the azygos vein and its two main tributaries: the hemiazygos vein and the accessory hemiazygos vein.
What drains into hemiazygos?
The hemiazygos vein (also known as the inferior hemiazygos vein) arises from the confluence of left lumbar ascending and subcostal veins….Hemiazygos vein.
Drains from | Left lumbar ascending vein, subcostal vein |
---|---|
Tributaries | Inferior three left posterior intercostal, mediastinal and esophageal veins |
Drains to | Azygos vein |
Where does the hemiazygos vein drain blood from?
It drains blood from the right posterior intercostal veins. It travels close to the right side of the inferior 8 thoracic vertebrae. It arches anteriorly just above the hilum of the right lung and drains into the superior vena cava. The hemiazygos vein arises from the left ascending lumbar vein.
Does hemiazygos vein drain into azygos?
The hemiazygos vein runs in the posterior mediastinum and drains into the azygos vein at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra.
What veins form the hemiazygos?
The hemiazygos vein (also known as the inferior hemiazygos vein) arises from the confluence of left lumbar ascending and subcostal veins. It is considered to be a left equivalent of the azygos vein.
Where does hemiazygos vein end?
The accessory hemiazygos vein usually crosses the midline and terminates by draining into the azygos vein at the level of the T7 vertebra.
What is vena cava and aorta?
Definition. Aorta is the main artery of the body, which begins at the left ventricle of the heart. Vena Cava is the largest type of vein in the body, which drains deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart.
What does the azygos drain into?
The azygos vein originates at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, entering the chest through the aortic hiatus. It ascends along the anterolateral surface of the thoracic vertebrae and arches ventrally to the right main bronchus at T5–T6, draining into the SVC.
How is hemiazygos vein formed?
[1] The hemiazygos vein looks like the mirror image of the lower part of the azygos vein. It is formed by the union of left ascending lumbar vein and subcostal vein. It ascends to the level of the 8th thoracic vertebra and opens into the azygos vein.
What does the hemiazygos vein drain?
Where does accessory hemiazygos drain into?
What is function of vena cava?
The superior vena cava carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest. The inferior vena cava carries blood from the legs, feet, and organs in the abdomen and pelvis. The vena cava is the largest vein in the body.