Azygous Vein
- Origin and course
- Formed by the confluence of the right
ascending lumbar vein with the right sub costal vein.
- It passes superiorly through the aortic
aperture and ascends in the posterior mediastinum
- At the level of T4, the azygous vein
arches over the root of the right lung to drain into the superior vena
cava.
- Relationships
- Posteriorly the inferior eight thoracic
vertebrae
- Anteriorly the esophagus
- Medially thoracic descending aorta
- Tributaries
- Hemiazygous
- Accessory Hemiazygous
- Right superior intercostal vein
- Multiple other small veins
- Drains
- the posterolateral thoracic and abdominal
walls
- parts of the right lung and mediastinum
- the middle of the esophagus