AZYGOS VEINS Meaning and
Definition
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Azygos veins are a pair of veins in the human body that play a crucial role in the venous drainage system. They are part of the systemic circulation, which involves the transportation of deoxygenated blood back to the heart. The azygos veins assist in carrying blood from the posterior (back) part of the body and abdomen, along with some portions of the chest wall, to the superior vena cava.
There are two major types of azygos veins: the azygos vein and the hemiazygos vein. The azygos vein, located on the right side of the vertebral column, is the larger of the two. It ascends vertically from the abdominal pelvic cavity through the diaphragm and enters the chest cavity. The azygos vein then arches over the right lung, crosses the midline in the mediastinum (the central part of the chest), and eventually drains into the superior vena cava. The smaller hemiazygos vein, situated on the left side of the vertebral column, receives various tributaries before merging with the azygos vein or directly emptying into the superior vena cava.
The azygos veins provide an alternative pathway for blood drainage when the normal venous drainage is obstructed or compromised. They aid in maintaining venous return to the heart and ensuring adequate blood flow, particularly in cases where the superior or inferior vena cava may be obstructed due to disease or physiological conditions. The azygos veins also play a vital role in collateral circulation, where alternative blood vessels are utilized to bypass areas of blockage or impaired circulation.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AZYGOS VEINS
- zzygos veins
- szygos veins
- wzygos veins
- qzygos veins
- axygos veins
- asygos veins
- aaygos veins
- aztgos veins
- azggos veins
- azhgos veins
- azugos veins
- az7gos veins
- az6gos veins
- azyfos veins
- azyvos veins
- azybos veins
- azyhos veins
- azyyos veins
- azytos veins
- azygis veins
Etymology of AZYGOS VEINS
The word "azygos" originates from the Ancient Greek term "ázygos" (ἄζυγος), which means "unequal" or "without a yoke". This term is a combination of the prefix "a-" (meaning "without" or "not") and "zygos" (meaning "yoke" or "pair"). In the context of anatomy, the term "azygos" is used to refer to veins that do not have a corresponding paired vein on the other side of the body. The Azygos Veins, specifically, are a group of veins found in the chest area that lack accompanying paired veins.
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