Veins Mediastinal Anterior

**Anterior mediastinal veins** are collecting subcutaneous vessels located immediately anterior to the sternum. They are anastomosed with the anterior venous network of the limbs and the heart in front.

The anterior mediastinal veins form the medial (view from the thoracic surface) and lateral borders of the atria with the esophagus, as well as the right and left veins dividing the wall of the esophagus from above. Above the diaphragm, the entry of these veins into the posterior venous network is called the “Bridge without openings.”

***The anterior intercostal veins*** and the anterior mediastinal veins together form the **anterior posterior vein**, which is a continuation of the external intercostal vein upward and further connects with the aoral branches of the anterior trunk of the efferent vein. Other veins lie within the anterior part of the esophagus and are innervated by parasympathetic fibers of the right vagus nerve, rather than by sympathetic vessels located in the mediastinum.

The role of the middle structures in the anterior wall in the supply of blood to the heart is to connect the anterior mediastinal veins with other anterior mediastinal and external mediastinal veins or with the subclavian vein through the anterior superior splanchic vein to form a large vein variably named right or left epicardi