Axillary vein

At a glance

English

Axillary vein

Latin (TA2)

Vena axillaris

System

Vein

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the axillary vein

The axillary vein is the main venous channel of the axilla. It carries blood from the whole upper limb, the axillary region and the side of the chest wall back towards the heart. Each side has its own, and it is the direct continuation upwards of the deep and superficial veins of the arm.

It begins at the inferior border of teres major, where the basilic vein, climbing on the medial side of the arm, joins the paired brachial veins. It then runs upwards and medially through the axilla. Along the way it gathers veins that match the branches of the axillary artery: the subscapular, the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral, the lateral thoracic and the thoraco-acromial veins. Close to its end, just below the clavicle, it is joined by the cephalic vein, which has descended through the deltopectoral groove and pierced the clavipectoral fascia. On reaching the outer edge of the first rib it changes its name and continues as the subclavian vein.

The vein lies on the medial side of the axillary artery throughout, with the cords of the brachial plexus and their branches grouped around the artery between the two. The axillary lymph nodes, especially the lateral group, are strung along it. For descriptive purposes it can be divided, like the artery, into parts lying below, behind and above pectoralis minor.

Because the vein is large and fairly constant, it is used for central venous access below the clavicle and for passing pacemaker leads. Together with the subclavian vein it can be compressed at the thoracic outlet, and effort-related thrombosis of this segment causes a swollen, blue, aching arm. When the axillary lymph nodes are cleared in cancer surgery, surgeons take the vein as the upper limit of the dissection and protect it carefully.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Begins at the lower border of teres major by the union of the brachial veins with the basilic vein.

Drains into

Continues as the subclavian vein once it passes the outer edge of the first rib.

Drains

Drains the upper limb, the axilla and the lateral chest wall, including the territory of the lateral thoracic and thoraco-acromial veins.