Lateral thoracic vein

At a glance

English

Lateral thoracic vein

Latin (TA2)

Vena thoracica lateralis

System

Vein

Region

Whole body

Side

Paired, left and right

About the lateral thoracic vein

The lateral thoracic vein runs on the lateral wall of the thorax, along the lower edge of pectoralis minor and over the surface of serratus anterior. It travels with the lateral thoracic artery, a branch of the axillary artery. Some texts call it the long thoracic vein, a name not everyone accepts.

It collects blood from the muscles over the side and front of the chest, mainly serratus anterior and pectoralis major, together with pectoralis minor and the overlying skin and subcutaneous tissue. It climbs into the axilla and ends in the axillary vein.

Lower down it is joined to the superficial veins of the abdominal wall by the thoraco-epigastric vein, a long superficial channel that runs down the side of the trunk to reach the superficial epigastric vein, which drains through the great saphenous into the femoral vein. This link connects the territory of the superior vena cava with that of the inferior vena cava. When the inferior vena cava is blocked, or when blood is diverted away from a liver with portal hypertension through the para-umbilical veins, this channel can enlarge and become visible as dilated veins on the side of the trunk.

In surgery of the axilla, for instance during clearance of the axillary lymph nodes, the lateral thoracic vessels are met close to the long thoracic nerve, which must be preserved to avoid a winged scapula. Superficial thrombophlebitis of the thoraco-epigastric vein and its neighbours is called Mondor's disease and appears as a tender cord on the chest wall.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Arises from veins of the lateral chest wall, serratus anterior and pectoralis major, and from the thoraco-epigastric vein.

Drains into

Ends in the axillary vein.

Drains

Drains serratus anterior, the pectoral muscles, and the skin of the lateral chest wall.