Definition

Noun: - A major vein of the upper limb: The vena axillaris (axillary vein) is a large blood vessel that drains deoxygenated blood from the upper limb, shoulder, and lateral chest wall. It is formed by the union of the brachial and basilic veins and continues as the subclavian vein.

Usage

• The is a key structure in the venous drainage system of the arm.
• Surgeons must be careful to avoid damaging the during procedures in the armpit region.
• A thrombosis in the can lead to swelling and pain in the arm.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: In medical imaging and surgery, the precise location and patency (openness) of the are critical. For example, it is a common site for the placement of central venous catheters via a percutaneous infraclavicular approach.
• Anatomical Relationships: The runs alongside the axillary artery and the brachial plexus within the axillary sheath, which is an important anatomical consideration to avoid neurovascular injury.

Variants and Related Words

• Axillary vein: This is the common English term for . The two terms are used interchangeably in medical literature.
  • The ultrasound clearly showed the path of the axillary vein.

Synonyms

• Axillary vein: The direct English synonym.

Different Meanings

This term has a single, specific meaning in human anatomy and does not have other common definitions.

Noun

1. a continuation of the basilic vein and brachial vein that becomes the subclavian vein