vena brachiocephalica

[TA] brachiocephalic vein: either of the two veins that drain blood from the head, neck, and upper limbs, and unite to form the superior vena cava. Each is formed at the root of the neck by union of the ipsilateral internal jugular and subclavian veins. The right vein (v. brachiocephalica dextra) passes almost vertically downward in front of the brachiocephalic artery, and the left vein (v. brachiocephalica sinistra) passes from left to right behind the upper part of the sternum. Each vein receives the vertebral, deep cervical, deep thyroid, and internal thoracic veins. The left vein also receives intercostal, thymic, tracheal, esophageal, phrenic, mediastinal, and pericardiac branches, as well as the thoracic duct; and the right vein receives the right lymphatic duct. Called also innominate vein.