Quick Facts
Origin: Along the bronchi.
Course: Travel posteriorly to join the azygos vein on the right and accessory hemiazygos vein on the left.
Tributaries: None.
Drainage: Bronchi and hilar structures.
Related parts of the anatomy
Origin
The bronchial veins originate on the dorsal aspect of the left and right bronchi.
Course
From their origin, the right and left bronchial veins travel posteriorly to their terminations at the azygos vein on the right and the accessory hemiazygos vein, or sometimes the superior intercostal vein, on the left.
It is important to note that bronchial vessels are a part of the systemic circulation, not the pulmonary circulation. They are not involved in the gas exchange that takes place at the alveoli between the blood and inspired air, although some distal bronchial vessels do anastomose with pulmonary vessels.
Tributaries
There are no named tributaries.
Structures Drained
The bronchial veins receive blood from the bronchi, hilar structures, such as lymph nodes, and visceral pleura adjacent to the hilum.
