326 DISSECTION OF THE RABBIT 



iii. The right internal mammary vein runs for- 

 wards on the inner surface of the ventral 

 thoracic wall, near the middle line, and opens 

 into the vena cava opposite the first rib. 



iv. The right subclavian vein returns blood from 

 the fore-limb and shoulder. 



V. The right external jugular vein is a large vein 

 running along the side of the neck. It is 

 formed in front by the union, just behind the 

 angle of the jaw, of the anterior and posterior 

 facial veins, returning blood from the face and 

 ear. 



vi. The right internal jugular vein is a small vein 

 returning blood from the brain, and running 

 down the neck alongside the trachea, to open 

 into the right external jugular vein close to 

 its imion with the subclavian. 



b. The left anterior vena cava resembles the right, 



except that it receives no azygos vein, and that 

 its course in the thorax is somewhat different, as 

 already described (p. 823). 



c. The posterior vena cava is a large median vein, com- 



mencing at the hinder end of the abdomen, and 

 running forwards close to the vertebral column 

 and to the right (or left) of the aorta. In front, it 

 leaves the abdominal wall and becomes imbedded 

 in the dorsal surface of the Hver, beyond which 

 it enters the thorax through an aperture in the 

 central tendon of the diaphragm, and rims for 

 wards, as already described (p. 323), to open into 

 the right auricle. 



The following are the principal veins opening 

 into the posterior vena cava. 



In dissecting these veins, take care not to da/mage the 

 arteries, which accompany and roughly correspond to them, 

 or the renal and reproductive organs. 



