Ninja Nerd - Circulatory System | Veins of the Thorax & Abdomen | Torso Anatomy Model

Veins of the Torso

Lower Limbs

• The great saphenous vein is located on the left side of the leg
• The lateral circumflex femoral vein and medial circumflex femoral vein are also located on the left side of the leg
• The femoral vein is located on the left side of the leg

Abdominal Wall

• The superficial epigastric vein is located on the left side of the abdomen
• The paraumbilical branches are located near the superficial epigastric vein
• The thoracoepigastric vein is located near the axillary vein

Arms

• The basilic vein is located on the right side of the arm
• The axillary vein is located on the right side of the arm
• The cephalic vein is located on the left side of the arm

Neck

• The right internal jugular vein is located on the right side of the neck
• The external jugular vein is located on the right side of the neck
• The facial vein is located on the right side of the neck, draining the upper head structure
• The superficial temporal vein is located on the right side of the neck, draining the temple
• The occipital vein is located on the right side of the neck, draining the back of the head

Thoracic Cavity

• The cephalic vein drains into the axillary vein
• The axillary vein feeds into the subclavian vein
• The subclavian vein joins with the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein
• The brachiocephalic vein drains into the superior vena cava
• The superior vena cava empties into the right atrium

Intercostal Veins

• The left posterior intercostal vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity
• The hemiazygos vein feeds into the accessory hemiazygos vein
• The accessory hemiazygos vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity

Anterior Intercostal Veins

• The left anterior intercostal vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity
• The internal thoracic vein (or mammary vein) is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity

Pulmonary Vessels

• The right pulmonary artery is located on the right side of the thoracic cavity
• The right pulmonary vein is located on the right side of the thoracic cavity
• The left pulmonary artery is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity
• The left pulmonary vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity

Abdominal Cavity

• The azygos portal vein is located in the abdominal cavity, bringing blood from the GI tract to the liver
• The inferior vena cava is located in the abdominal cavity, receiving blood from the azygos portal vein

Intestinal Insert

• The superior mesenteric vein is located on the right side of the intestinal insert
• The inferior mesenteric vein is located on the left side of the intestinal insert
• The splenic vein is located on the left side of the intestinal insert, draining blood from the spleen

Posterior Abdominal Wall

• The right external iliac vein is located on the right side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The right common iliac vein is located on the right side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The left common iliac vein is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The inferior vena cava is formed by the union of the right and left common iliac veins
• The right gonadal vein is located on the right side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The left gonadal vein is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The right renal vein is located on the right side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The left renal vein is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The left adrenal vein (or left suprarenal vein) is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall
• The inferior phrenic vein is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall, draining blood from the diaphragm

Veins of the Torso

Lower Limbs

• The great saphenous vein, lateral circumflex femoral vein, and medial circumflex femoral vein are located on the left side of the leg.
• The femoral vein is also located on the left side of the leg.

Abdominal Wall

• The superficial epigastric vein is located on the left side of the abdomen.
• Paraumbilical branches are located near the superficial epigastric vein.
• The thoracoepigastric vein is located near the axillary vein.

Arms

• The basilic vein is located on the right side of the arm.
• The axillary vein is located on the right side of the arm.
• The cephalic vein is located on the left side of the arm.

Neck

• The right internal jugular vein, external jugular vein, facial vein, and superficial temporal vein are located on the right side of the neck.
• The facial vein drains the upper head structure.
• The superficial temporal vein drains the temple.
• The occipital vein drains the back of the head.

Thoracic Cavity

• The cephalic vein drains into the axillary vein.
• The axillary vein feeds into the subclavian vein.
• The subclavian vein joins with the internal jugular vein to form the brachiocephalic vein.
• The brachiocephalic vein drains into the superior vena cava.
• The superior vena cava empties into the right atrium.

Intercostal Veins

• The left posterior intercostal vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity.
• The hemiazygos vein feeds into the accessory hemiazygos vein, which is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity.

Anterior Intercostal Veins

• The left anterior intercostal vein is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity.
• The internal thoracic vein (or mammary vein) is located on the left side of the thoracic cavity.

Pulmonary Vessels

• The right pulmonary artery and right pulmonary vein are located on the right side of the thoracic cavity.
• The left pulmonary artery and left pulmonary vein are located on the left side of the thoracic cavity.

Abdominal Cavity

• The azygos portal vein is located in the abdominal cavity, bringing blood from the GI tract to the liver.
• The inferior vena cava is located in the abdominal cavity, receiving blood from the azygos portal vein.

Intestinal Insert

• The superior mesenteric vein is located on the right side of the intestinal insert.
• The inferior mesenteric vein and splenic vein are located on the left side of the intestinal insert.
• The splenic vein drains blood from the spleen.

Posterior Abdominal Wall

• The right external iliac vein, right common iliac vein, and right gonadal vein are located on the right side of the posterior abdominal wall.
• The left common iliac vein, left gonadal vein, left renal vein, and left adrenal vein are located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall.
• The inferior vena cava is formed by the union of the right and left common iliac veins.
• The inferior phrenic vein is located on the left side of the posterior abdominal wall, draining blood from the diaphragm.

Thoracic Aorta

• Located above the diaphragm, giving rise to several branches:
  • Posterior intercostal arteries (supply intercostal muscles)
  • Superior phrenic artery (supplies diaphragm)
  • Bronchial arteries (supply bronchi)
  • Esophageal artery (supplies esophagus)
  • Mediastinal artery (supplies mediastinum and its structures)
  • Pericardial artery (supplies pericardium)

Structures Near the Thoracic Aorta

• Lies posterior to the vertebral column, closely related to:
  • Left pleura
  • Hemiazygos vein
  • Thoracic duct
  • Esophagus

Abdominal Aorta

• Located below the diaphragm, giving rise to several branches:
  • Inferior phrenic artery (supplies inferior part of diaphragm)
  • Adrenal arteries (supply adrenal glands)
  • Renal arteries (supply kidneys)
  • Gonadal arteries (supply gonads)
  • Lumbar arteries (supply lumbar region)
  • Common iliac arteries (divide into external and internal iliac arteries)

Branches of the Common Iliac Artery

• Divides into:
  • External iliac artery
  • Internal iliac artery, which gives rise to:
    • Superior gluteal artery (supplies gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus)
    • Inferior gluteal artery (supplies gluteus maximus, piriformis, and quadratus femoris)
    • Internal pudendal artery (supplies external genitalia and perineum)
    • Obturator artery (supplies medial compartment of the thigh)

Celiac Trunk

• Arises at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra, giving rise to:
  • Left gastric artery (supplies stomach)
  • Splenic artery (supplies spleen and gives rise to left gastroepiploic artery)
  • Common hepatic artery (gives rise to hepatic artery proper and gastroduodenal artery)

Branches of the Common Hepatic Artery

• Gives rise to:
  • Hepatic artery proper (supplies liver and gives rise to right and left hepatic arteries)
  • Right hepatic artery (supplies right lobe of liver)
  • Left hepatic artery (supplies left lobe of liver)
  • Gastroduodenal artery (supplies duodenum and stomach)

Branches of the Abdominal Aorta

• Left gastric artery supplies the fundus of the stomach.
• Right gastric artery supplies the pylorus of the stomach.
• Gastro-duodenal artery supplies the pylorus of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

Branches of the Superior Mesenteric Artery

• Intestinal arteries supply the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine.
• Ileal branch supplies the ileum, caecum, and appendix.
• Right colic artery supplies the ascending colon.
• Middle colic artery supplies the transverse colon.

Branches of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery

• Left colic artery supplies the descending colon.
• Sigmoid artery supplies the sigmoid colon.
• Superior rectal artery supplies the rectum and gives rise to the mid and inferior rectal arteries.

Marfan Syndrome

• Autosomal dominant disorder caused by a mutation in the fibrillin gene.
• Affects the elasticity of blood vessels, leading to:
  • Decreased elasticity
  • Increased risk of aortic dissection and rupture
• Affects the heart valves, leading to:
  • Mitral valve prolapse
  • Regurgitation
• Other symptoms include:
  • Long, slender fingers
  • Hyper-reflexivity
  • Hyper-flexibility of joints
  • Lens dislocation (subluxation)
  • Dural ectasia (dilation of the dural sac around the lumbar and sacral spine)
  • Scoliosis
  • Pectus excavatum (caved-in chest)
  • Spontaneous pneumothorax (rarely)