Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Superior epigastric veins
Venae epigastricae superiores
- Origin
- Arise in the rectus sheath from periumbilical anastomoses
- Insertion
- Ascend accompanying the superior epigastric artery to empty into the internal thoracic vein
- Function
- Drains the upper anterior abdominal wall into the SVC system
- Innervation
- Sympathetic vasomotor fibers
- Movement & chain
- Low-pressure venous drainage
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Cavo-caval collateral connection linking inferior and superior caval territories.
- Segmental innervation
- T7-T9 dermatomes
- In clinical practice
- Trocar injury avoidance during upper abdominal laparoscopy
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)