Linguists connect it to brev, a pre Indo-European root meaning stiff from cold.

The creek is formed near the village of Tonno (comune of Valbrevenna) from the union of rio di Tonno (coming from Monte Antola) with rio dell'Orso, which collects the waters descending the southern slopes of Monte Buio.

[5] After a brief stretch heading south the Brevenna receives the rio Senarega from its left and then turns west.

Downstream from the village, the Brevenna turns southeast and, flanked for a long stretch by the provincial road nr.11, it ends up at the Scrivia not far from the centre of Casella.

[7] The uppermost part of the Brevenna watershed is included in Parco naturale regionale dell'Antola.