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Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences: Human Structure Module
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  9. Selected Veins of the Upper Limb

Selected Veins of the Upper Limb

Note: Many veins follow the branching and distribution pattern of the artery of the same name. This table contains veins that do not travel with an artery of the same name, or that run an independent course from the artery of the same name.

VeinTributariesDrains IntoRegions DrainedNotes
antebrachial, mediansuperficial veins of the palm and anterior forearmmedian cubital v. or basilic v.palm; anterior forearmmedian antecubital v. is variable in size - it may be large or absent
basilic v.medial end of the dorsal venous arch of the hand; superficial veins of the forearm; median cubital v.it unites with the brachial vein(s) to form the axillary v.superficial parts of the medial side of the hand and medial side of the forearmbasilic v. communicates with deep veins of the forearm through perforating veins, especially in the cubital region
brachiocephalic v.formed by the union of the subclavian v. and the internal jugular v.; tributaries: vertebral v., thymic v., inferior thyroid v., internal thoracic v., 1st posterior intercostal v., left superior intercostal v. (to the left brachiocephalic v.)the left and right brachiocephalic vv. unite to form the superior vena cavahead; neck; upper limb; anterior chest wallat its origin, the left brachiocephalic v. receives the thoracic duct; at its origin, the right brachiocephalic v. receives the right lymphatic duct
cephalic v.lateral side of the dorsal venous arch of the hand; superficial veins of the forearmaxillary veinsuperficial parts of the lateral hand and lateral forearmmedian cubital vein usually shunts some of the blood collected by the cephalic v. to the basilic v.
dorsal metacarpal v. of the handdorsal digital vv.dorsal venous arch of the handdorsal aspects of the digits of the hand dorsal metacarpal v. drains the adjacent sides of two digits
dorsal venous arch of the handdorsal digital vv. and dorsal metacarpal vv.cephalic v. laterally, basilic v. mediallydorsum of the digits and the superficial structures of the dorsum ot the handdorsal venous arch is visible through the thin skin on the dorsum of the hand
median antebrachial v.superficial veins of the palm and anterior forearmmedian cubital v. or basilic v.palm; anterior forearmmedian antecubital v. is variable in size - it may be large or absent
median cubital v.cephalicbasilicsuperficial part of the hand and forearma median antebrachial vein occurs occasionally and, when present, it may drain into the median cubital vein
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