Left brachiocephalic vein

Vena brachiocephalica sinistra

CardiovascularBlood vesselsThoraxLeft side

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What it is
Formed behind the left sternoclavicular joint by the union of the left internal jugular and subclavian veins; runs obliquely down and to the right behind the manubrium, in front of all three arch branches, to join the right brachiocephalic vein.
Function
Drains the left side of the head, neck and left arm, and receives the thoracic duct at its origin (the left venous angle).
Size
~6 cm long, ~1.2 cm wide.
Clinical note
Much longer than the right one because the superior vena cava lies to the right of the midline.

Nearby cardiovascular structures Aortic arch, Ascending aorta, Brachiocephalic trunk, Left subclavian artery, Pulmonary trunk, Right brachiocephalic vein, Right pulmonary artery, Right subclavian artery, Subclavian vein, Superior vena cava