Vena azygos
The azygos vein is a unilateral vessel that ascends in the thorax to the right of the vertebral column, carrying deoxygenated blood from the posterior chest and abdominal walls. It forms part of the azygos venous system.
Terminology
The spelling azygous when referring to the vein is incorrect, regardless of whether British or American English is used . Azygous is a word in English meaning 'without pair', but in the context of anatomy, azygos vein is the sole correct spelling (see Terminologia Anatomica).
Gross anatomy
Origin
The azygos vein is formed by the union of the ascending lumbar veins and right subcostal veins at around the T12-L2 vertebral level.
Course
If originating at a lumbar level, the azygos vein typically enters the chest through the aortic hiatus (T12 vertebral level), although may enter by piercing the right crus of the diaphragm. It then ascends in the posterior mediastinum before arching over the right main bronchus posteriorly at the root of the right lung (at the level of T5-T6) where it joins the superior vena cava. This arch of the azygos vein (arcus venae azygos) is an important anatomical landmark.
Often there is a valve in the arch within 4 cm of its orifice in the SVC, which can be seen in about two-thirds of CT cases with reflux of contrast into the azygos arch . When present and seen with contrast reflux, the valve is often (82%) associated with a bulge of the valve sinus . Contrast isolated in the sinuses of this valve may be mistaken for hyperattenuating foci in the vicinity such as calcified lymph nodes, surgical clips or tracheal calcification.
Tributaries
- hemiazygos vein is a similar structure on the opposite side of the vertebral column and drains into the azygos vein
- accessory hemiazygos vein
- posterior right intercostal veins
- right superior phrenic vein
- right superior intercostal vein
- tracheal veins
- esophageal veins
- bronchial veins
- pericardial veins
The azygos vein freely anastomoses with the vertebral venous plexus.
Relations
- posterior: vertebral bodies of at least T5-T12, anterior longitudinal ligament, right posterior intercostal arteries
- anterior: IVC, SVC
- right lateral: right greater splanchnic nerve, pleura, lung
- left: thoracic duct, aorta, esophagus, trachea, right vagus nerve
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
It forms part of the normal cardiomediastinal contour on chest x-rays and normally measures <7 mm (erect projection).
Variant anatomy
- azygos fissure and azygos lobe
- absence of the azygos vein (rare)
- azygos continuation of the IVC
History and etymology
The Ancient Greek root "ζυγόν" (zygon) means a yoke, as holds two oxen together, and thus came to mean a pair, and the prefix "α-" (a) means not; hence, azygos means a non-paired structure.
Related pathology
- enlarged azygos vein
- malpositioned central venous catheter in the azygos vein
Siehe auch:
und weiter:
Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu Vena azygos: 
