We will consider the anatomy, areas of blood drainage, and anastomoses of the axillary vein.
The axillary vein (vena axillaris) is a large, paired vein that is located in the axilla on the right and left.

It is accompanied by the subclavian artery, as well as by the nerve trunks of the brachial plexus.

The axillary vein (vena axillaris) arises at the level of the inferior border of the pectoralis major muscle from the brachial veins (vv. brachiales)

and ends by the level of the external border of the 1st rib, where it continues into the subclavian vein (v. subclavia).

The axillary lymph nodes located nearby are of great importance. They communicate with each other by lymphatic vessels and form the axillary and subclavian lymph plexus (plexus lymphaticis axillaris et subclavius). Lymph drainage from the axillary lymph nodes is carried out into the subclavian trunk, which ends by the thoracic duct or the subclavian vein.
The axillary vein has the following main tributaries:
The thoraco-acromial vein (v.thoracoacromialis) receives blood from the small veins of the shoulder joint, deltoid, and both pectoral muscles.
Thoraco-acromial vein (v.thoracoacromialis) The lateral thoracic vein (v.thoracica lateralis) drains blood from the tributaries of the veins of the mammary gland and partially of the pectoral muscles.
Lateral thoracic vein (v.thoracica lateralis) The superior thoracic vein (v.thoracica superior), by which small tributaries of subclavian muscle veins, veins of the pectoralis muscles, and veins from the serratus anterior muscle and intercostal muscles end. The superior pectoral vein drains venous blood from these muscles.
The subcapular vein (v. subscapularis) is formed from the veins surrounding the scapula and the subcapular veins. It drains blood from the muscles of the scapular region.
Subcapular vein (v. subscapularis) The thoracodorsal vein (v. thoracicodorsalis) ends by the scapular artery, also draining blood from the scapular region.
Thoracodorsal vein (v. thoracodorsalis) There are also several small tributaries draining blood from the respective areas:
The vein to the profunda brachii artery (v.comitans arteriae profundae brachii)
Vein to the profunda brachii artery (v. comitans arteriae profundae brachii) The vein to the subscapular artery (v.comitans arteriae subscapularis)
Vein to the subscapular artery (v. comitans arteriae subscapularis) The vein to the posterior circumflex humeral artery (v. comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri posterioris)
Vein to the posterior circumflex humeral artery (v.comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri posterioris) The vein to the anterior circumflex humeral artery (v. comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri anterioris)
Vein to the anterior circumflex humeral artery (v.comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri anterioris) The vein to the circumflex scapular artery (v.comitans arteriae circumflexae scapulae)
Vein to the circumflex scapular artery (v.comitans arteriae circumflexae scapulae)
Axillary vein and its tributaries
- Axillary vein
- vena axillaris
- Axillary and subclavian lymphatic plexus
- plexus lymphaticis axillaris et subclavius
- Superior thoracic vein
- v. thoracica superior
- Thoraco-acromial vein
- v. thoracoacromialis
- Lateral thoracic vein
- v. thoracica lateralis
- Subscapular vein
- v. subscapularis
- Thoracodorsal vein
- v. thoracico dorsalis
- Vein to the deep artery of the arm
- v. comitans arteriae profundae brachii
- Vein to the subscapular artery
- v. comitans arteriae subscapularis
- Vein to the posterior circumflex humeral artery
- v. comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri posterioris
- Vein to the anterior circumflex humeral artery
- v. comitans arteriae circumflexae humeri anterioris
- Vein to the posterior circumflex scapular artery
- v. comitans arteriae circumflexae scapulae
- Clavipectoral triangle
- trigonum clavipectorale