right bronchial vein

The right bronchial vein is a bronchial vein that drains blood from the bronchi of the right lung and empties into the azygos vein.

It is located in the right thorax, arising from the bronchi and related structures of the right lung hilum and draining posteriorly into the azygos vein.

Its function is to drain deoxygenated blood from the bronchial walls of the right lung into the systemic venous circulation via the azygos vein, complementing the venous drainage of the pulmonary parenchyma.

Pulmonary hypertension, chronic lung disease, and certain congenital heart conditions may be associated with engorgement or dilation of bronchial veins, including the right bronchial vein.

CT angiography and bronchial arteriography may be used to evaluate the bronchial venous system, though the small caliber of bronchial veins makes direct imaging challenging.