Veins of the upper limb

Superficial subcutaneous veins

Superficial veins are located in the subcutaneous tissue and do not have direct companion arteries. The main collectors of this system are two large veins:

• Cephalic vein (v. cephalica). It runs along the lateral border of the forearm. In the elbow region, it may receive an accessory cephalic vein (v. cephalica accessoria). Further up, it ascends onto the arm, courses deeply below the clavicle, perforates the clavipectoral fascia (fascia clavipectoralis), and empties into the axillary vein. Along its path, it receives the thoracoacromial vein.
• Basilic vein (v. basilica). It is a continuation of the 4th dorsal metacarpal vein. Ascending along the dorsum of the forearm, it passes to the palmar surface and runs along the medial border. In the elbow region, its caliber increases noticeably after merging with the median cubital vein. On the arm, it enters the medial bicipital groove (sulcus bicipitalis medialis), perforates the brachial fascia at the border of the lower and middle thirds, and empties into the brachial veins (vv. brachiales). Sometimes it may course directly into the axilla.

Between these two veins on the anterior surface of the forearm, there is often an inconstant median antebrachial vein (v. mediana antebrachii). In the upper third of the forearm, it either merges with the median cubital vein or bifurcates into two trunks — v. cephalica antebrachii and v. basilica antebrachii, which run toward the corresponding main superficial veins.

Deep veins and venous arches

Deep veins (vv. profundae membri superioris) drain blood from deep structures: bones, joints, and muscles. A characteristic feature is that they run in pairs, accompanying a single artery of the same name.

Veins of the hand:

1. Superficial palmar venous arch (arcus venosus palmaris superficialis) — poorly developed, located at the base of the fingers, receives palmar digital veins (vv. digitales palmares).
2. Deep palmar venous arch (arcus venosus palmaris profundus) — consists of two anastomosing veins accompanying the deep arterial arch. It receives palmar metacarpal veins, which collect blood from the interosseous and lumbrical muscles. In the first intermetacarpal space, the deep arch forms an important anastomosis with the 1st dorsal metacarpal vein.

Veins of the forearm and arm: From the hand, the veins pass into the forearm, forming radial (vv. radiales) and ulnar (vv. ulnares) veins, which run on both sides of the corresponding arteries. In the cubital fossa, they merge to form two brachial veins (vv. brachiales). The brachial veins accompany the brachial artery, receive muscular tributaries, and unite into a single large trunk upon entering the axilla.

Axillary vein as the main collector

Axillary vein (v. axillaris) — the main vessel that receives blood from the deep and superficial systems of the upper extremity.

It is located in the axilla anterior to the axillary artery. The boundaries of the vein extend from the lower border of the pectoralis major muscle (m. pectoralis major) to the 1st rib, where it continues as the subclavian vein (v. subclavia).

The axillary vein receives v. cephalica, as well as deep veins accompanying the branches of the axillary artery:

• Subscapular vein (v. subscapularis).
• Circumflex humeral veins (anterior and posterior).
• Circumflex scapular vein (v. circumflexa scapulae).
• Lateral thoracic vein (v. thoracica lateralis).
• Thoracoepigastric vein (v. thoracoepigastrica).

At the level of the neck, the subclavian vein joins the internal jugular vein (v. jugularis interna), forming the large brachiocephalic vein (v. brachiocephalica).

Briefly: answers to topical questions

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Topography of the clavipectoral fascia and features of v. cephalica termination
• Anatomy of the arterial and venous arches of the palmar surface of the hand
• Tributaries of the axillary vein and pathways of venous drainage from the thoracic wall
• Topography of neurovascular bundles in the wrist region
• Variant anatomy of the median antebrachial vein (v. mediana antebrachii)

Other topics in the "Angiology" section

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