The left and right brachiocephalic veins (previously called innominate veins) are major

vein Veins () are blood vessels in the circulatory system of humans and most other animals that carry blood towards the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are those of the pulmonary and feta ...

s in the upper chest, formed by the union of the

ipsilateral Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...

internal jugular vein The internal jugular vein is a paired jugular vein that collects blood from the brain and the superficial parts of the face and neck. This vein runs in the carotid sheath with the common carotid artery and vagus nerve. It begins in the posteri ...

and

subclavian vein The subclavian vein is a paired large vein, one on either side of the body, that is responsible for draining blood from the upper extremities, allowing this blood to return to the heart. The left subclavian vein plays a key role in the absorption ...

(the so-called

venous angle The venous angle (also known as Pirogoff's angle and in Latin as ''angulus venosus'') is the junction where the ipsilateral internal jugular vein and subclavian vein unite to form the ipsilateral brachiocephalic vein. The thoracic duct drains at t ...

) behind the

sternoclavicular joint The sternoclavicular joint or sternoclavicular articulation is a Synovial joint, synovial Saddle joint, saddle joint between the sternum#Manubrium, manubrium of the sternum, and the clavicle bone, clavicle, and the first costal cartilage. The joi ...

. The left brachiocephalic vein is more than twice the length of the right brachiocephalic vein. These veins merge to form the

superior vena cava The superior vena cava (SVC) is the superior of the two venae cavae, the great venous trunks that return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium of the heart. It is a large-diameter (24 mm) short length vei ...

, a

great vessel Great vessels are the large vessels that bring blood to and from the heart. These are: * Superior vena cava * Inferior vena cava * Pulmonary arteries * Pulmonary veins * Aorta Transposition of the great vessels is a group of congenital A bir ...

, posterior to the junction of the first

costal cartilage Costal cartilage, also known as rib cartilage, are bars of hyaline cartilage that serve to prolong the ribs forward and contribute to the elasticity of the walls of the thorax. Costal cartilage is only found at the anterior ends of the ribs, pr ...

with the manubrium of the sternum. The brachiocephalic veins are the major veins returning blood to the

Left and right veins

Left brachiocephalic vein

The left brachiocephalic vein is about 6cm, more than twice the length of the right brachiocephalic vein.subclavian and left

s. In addition the left vein receives drainage from the following tributaries: * The left

vertebral vein The vertebral vein is formed in the suboccipital triangle, from numerous small tributaries which spring from the internal vertebral venous plexuses and issue from the vertebral canal above the posterior arch of the atlas. They unite with small ...

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 ...

inferior thyroid veins The inferior thyroid veins appear two, frequently three or four, in number, and arise in the venous plexus on the thyroid gland, communicating with the middle and superior thyroid veins. While the superior and middle thyroid veins serve as direct t ...

superior intercostal vein The superior intercostal veins are two veins that drain the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces, one vein for each side of the body. Right superior intercostal vein The right superior intercostal vein drains the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th posterior inter ...

s, the

thymic veins Thymic veins are veins which drain the thymus. They are tributaries of the left brachiocephalic vein The left and right brachiocephalic veins (previously called innominate veins) are major veins in the Thorax, upper chest, formed by the union of ...

and the

pericardial veins The smallest cardiac veins (also known as the Thebesian veins (named for Adam Christian Thebesius) are small, valveless veins in the walls of all four heart chambers that drain venous blood from the myocardium directly into any of the heart chamb ...

Right brachiocephalic vein

The right brachiocephalic vein is about 2.5cm long. The right vein is formed by the confluence of the right subclavian vein and the right internal jugular vein. It receives the following tributaries: * The right vertebral vein, the internal thoracic vein, and the thyroid veins, and occasionally from the first right posterior intercostal veins.Hip bone The hip bone (os coxae, innominate bone, pelvic bone or coxal bone) is a large flat bone, constricted in the center and expanded above and below. In some vertebrates (including humans before puberty) it is composed of three parts: the Ilium (bone) ...

Left and right veins

Left brachiocephalic vein

Right brachiocephalic vein

References