Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Superior phrenic veins
Venae phrenicae superiores
- Origin
- Arise from the capillary networks on the thoracic aspect of the diaphragm
- Insertion
- Drain into the inferior vena cava and the azygos/hemiazygos venous system
- Function
- Drains venous blood from the superior aspect of the diaphragm
- Innervation
- Vasomotor sympathetic fibers
- Movement & chain
- Respiratory-assisted low-pressure venous return
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Minor collateral pathway in central venous obstruction.
- Segmental innervation
- T4-T8 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Assessment of central venous congestion
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)