Topic summary
Intercostal veins
The intercostal veins are a group of veins which drain the area between the ribs ("costae"), called the intercostal space.
They can be divided as follows:
- Anterior intercostal veins
- Posterior intercostal veins
- Posterior intercost vein that drain into the Supreme intercostal vein - 1st intercostal space
- Posterior intercost veins that drain into the Superior intercostal vein - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th intercostal spaces. The superior intercostal vein then drains into the Azygous vein.
- Posterior intercost veins that drain directly into the Azygous vein - in spaces 5–11.
- Subcostal vein—below bottom (12th) rib and also drains into the Azygous vein.