Brachiocephalic veins

The Brachiocephalic veins (pronunciation: brak-ee-oh-seh-fal-ik veins) are major blood vessels located in the upper chest region of the human body. They are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the upper limbs, neck, and head back to the heart.

Etymology

The term "Brachiocephalic" is derived from the Greek words "brachio" meaning arm and "kephale" meaning head, signifying the veins' function of draining blood from the head and arms.

Anatomy

The Brachiocephalic veins are formed by the union of the Internal jugular vein and the Subclavian vein. There are two Brachiocephalic veins, the left and the right, which are located on either side of the Mediastinum. The right Brachiocephalic vein is typically shorter than the left. These veins join to form the Superior vena cava, which carries the deoxygenated blood into the heart.

Function

The primary function of the Brachiocephalic veins is to transport deoxygenated blood from the upper parts of the body back to the heart. They serve as a major pathway in the Venous system.

Related Terms

Internal jugular vein: A vein that collects blood from the brain, face, and neck, and transports it towards the heart.
Subclavian vein: A vein that carries blood from the upper extremities back to the heart.
Mediastinum: The central compartment of the thoracic cavity that contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and several other organs.
Superior vena cava: A large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body back to the heart.
Venous system: The network of veins in the body that carry blood towards the heart.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Brachiocephalic veins
Wikipedia's article - Brachiocephalic veins

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Brachiocephalic veins