human anatomy Human anatomy (gr. ἀνατομία, "dissection", from ἀνά, "up", and τέμνειν, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross ...

, the superior epigastric veins are two or more

venae comitantes Vena comitans (Latin for accompanying vein, also known as a satellite vein) refers to a vein that is usually paired, with both veins lying on the sides of an artery. Because they are generally found in pairs, they are often referred to by their ...

which accompany either

superior epigastric artery In human anatomy, the superior epigastric artery is a terminal branch of the internal thoracic artery that provides arterial supply to the abdominal wall, and upper rectus abdominis muscle. It enters the rectus sheath to descend upon the inner ...

before emptying into the

internal thoracic vein In human anatomy, the internal thoracic vein (previously known as the internal mammary vein) is the vein that drains the chest wall and breasts. Structure Bilaterally, the internal thoracic vein arises from the superior epigastric vein, and ...

. They participate in the drainage of the superior surface of the diaphragm.

Structure

Course

The superior epigastric vein originates from the

. The superior epigastric veins first run between the sternal margin and the costal margin of the diaphragm, then enter the

rectus sheath The rectus sheath (also called the rectus fascia.) is a tough fibrous compartment formed by the aponeuroses of the transverse abdominal, transverse abdominal muscle, and the internal oblique, internal and external oblique muscles. It contains the ...

. They run inferiorly, coursing superficially to the fibrous layer forming the posterior leaflet of the rectus sheath, and deep to the

rectus abdominis muscle The rectus abdominis muscle, () also known as the "abdominal muscle" or simply better known as the "abs", is a pair of segmented skeletal muscle on the ventral aspect of a person's abdomen. The paired muscle is separated at the midline by a ba ...

. The superior epigastric veins are

of the

, and mirror its course.

Distribution

The superior epigastric veins participate in the drainage of the superior surface of the diaphragm.

Fate

The superior epigastric veins drain into the

References

External links