Kevin, I love you. You are my catalyst for learning anatomy. Your explanations and presentations enhance my understanding. I am so very grateful for you!
Thoracoepigastric vein doesn't actually connect the superficial epigastric vein and axillary vein....it actually connects the superficial epigastric vein with the lateral thoracic vein which inturn Is a branch of Axillary vein.
Couldn't blood technically travel vi the inferior epigastric and anastomose with the superior epigastric, bypassing the IVC and not utilizing the superficial epigastric and thoracoepigastric anastomosis?