Posterior circumflex humeral vein

At a glance

English

Posterior circumflex humeral vein

Latin (TA2)

Vena circumflexa posterior humeri

System

Vein

Region

Upper limb

Side

Paired, left and right

About the posterior circumflex humeral vein

The posterior circumflex humeral vein accompanies the posterior circumflex humeral artery. Like many deep veins of the limb, it is frequently doubled. It is larger than its anterior counterpart and drains much of the deltoid, the back of the shoulder joint and the upper humerus before ending in the axillary vein.

Its tributaries gather on the deep surface of the deltoid and around the posterior and lateral aspects of the humeral head and surgical neck. From there the vein curves medially behind the bone and passes through the quadrangular space, a gap bounded by teres minor above, teres major below, the long head of triceps medially and the surgical neck of the humerus laterally. The axillary nerve travels through the same space, so the three structures form a closely bound bundle.

Emerging into the axilla, the vein opens into the axillary vein, sometimes after joining the brachial veins. Around the bone it is connected with the anterior circumflex humeral vein, and it also has links with the deltoid tributaries of the thoraco-acromial veins, with the circumflex scapular veins and with the profunda brachii veins.

Its clinical importance comes from its partners in the quadrangular space. Fractures of the surgical neck and dislocations of the shoulder can injure the axillary nerve together with these vessels. In quadrilateral space syndrome, fibrous bands or hypertrophied muscle compress the nerve and the posterior circumflex vessels, causing shoulder pain and weakness of the deltoid; throwing athletes are most often affected. In posterior approaches to the shoulder the vessels are kept in view to protect the nerve that lies with them.

Course and drainage

Begins at

Begins from tributaries in the deltoid and around the back of the humeral head and surgical neck.

Drains into

Ends in the axillary vein after passing through the quadrangular space.

Drains

Drains the deltoid, teres minor, the posterior part of the shoulder joint and the proximal humerus.