Intercostal vein

Definition

An intercostal vein is one of the veins that run between the ribs (intercostal spaces) and drain blood from the chest wall and muscles back to the heart. They are part of the systemic venous system, collecting deoxygenated blood to return it to the heart for oxygenation.

Related terms

Superior Vena Cava:

The large vein that receives deoxygenated blood from the upper body's veins, including the intercostal veins, and returns it to the heart.

Thoracic Aorta: The major artery from which arteries, including those supplying blood to the areas drained by intercostal veins, branch off to supply oxygen-rich blood to parts of the body.

Diaphragm:

A dome-shaped muscular partition separating the thorax from the abdomen, playing a significant role in breathing, which influences thoracic pressure and impacts venous return through vessels like intercostal veins