Corpus: Brachiocephalic vein
Definition
The brachiocephalic vein is a larger, paired body vein in the upper thoracic area, formed by the confluence of the internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein.
Anatomy
Right Brachiocephalic Vein
The shorter, approximately 2.5 cm long, right brachiocephalic vein begins at the right sternoclavicular joint and meets the left brachiocephalic vein at the level of the lower edge of the first rib cartilage - near the right sternal margin. Here, both vessels unite to form the superior vena cava.
To the right of the vein are the phrenic nerve and the pleura, which lie between the vessel and the apex of the lung. The right brachiocephalic vein receives the right vertebral vein, inferior thyroid vein, and internal thoracic vein.
Left Brachiocephalic Vein
The longer, approximately 6 cm long, left brachiocephalic vein begins at the left sternoclavicular joint and runs obliquely behind the manubrium of the sternum to the right to its junction with the right brachiocephalic vein at the level of the first rib cartilage. It is separated from the manubrium sterni by the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles. It crosses ventrally over the major aortic branches and the vagus nerve. The left brachiocephalic vein receives the left vertebral vein, internal mammary vein, inferior thyroid vein, and the highest left intercostal vein.