Brachiocephalic vein: anatomy, location and function

What it is

The brachiocephalic veins are two large veins that unite to form the superior vena cava.

Location

Each forms behind the sternoclavicular joint by the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. The right is short and descends nearly vertically; the left is longer and crosses behind the manubrium. They join at the lower border of the right first costal cartilage. Tributaries include the vertebral, internal thoracic and inferior thyroid veins, and on the left the left superior intercostal vein.

Function

They drain the head, neck and upper limbs to the superior vena cava.

Body system

Cardiovascular · paired (left and right)

FMA ID

FMA4761 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

• The left brachiocephalic vein (about 6 cm) is more than twice as long as the right (about 2.5 cm).
• The thoracic duct usually empties at the junction of the left internal jugular and left subclavian veins, where the left brachiocephalic vein begins.

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

• Brachiocephalic artery · cardiovascular
• Common carotid artery · cardiovascular
• Superior vena cava · cardiovascular
• Trachea · respiratory
• Arch of aorta · cardiovascular
• Sternothyroid · muscular
• Manubrium · skeletal
• Lobe of thymus · endocrine
• First costal cartilage · skeletal
• First posterior intercostal artery · cardiovascular