
Key point about the veins of the upper limbTable quiz
Classification | Superficial and deep veins |
Veins of the arm and axilla | Superficial veins: Basilic vein, cephali ... |
Veins of the forearm | Superficial veins: Basilic vein, cephali ... |
Veins of the hand | Superficial veins: Dorsal digital veins, ... |
Where are the deep veins in the upper limb?
Deep Veins. The deep venous system of the upper limb is situated underneath the deep fascia. It is formed by paired veins, which accompany and lie either side of an artery. In the upper extremity, the deep veins share the name of the artery they accompany.
What blood vessels drain blood from the upper limb?
5. Deep veins of the upper limb Veins of the upper limb are blood vessels that drain deoxygenated blood from the tissue of the arm, forearm, and hand, and return it to the right atrium of the heart and the systemic circulation. The blood vessels providing venous drainage from the upper limb can be divided into superficial and deep veins.
Where is the deep venous system located?
The deep venous system of the upper limb is situated underneath the deep fascia. It is formed by paired veins, which accompany and lie either side of an artery. In the upper extremity, the deep veins share the name of the artery they accompany. The brachial veins are the largest in size, and are situated either side of the brachial artery.
What is venous drainage of the upper limb?
Venous Drainage of the Upper Limb. The venous system of the upper limb drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, forearm and hand. It can be subdivided into the superficial system and the deep system.

What vein drains the right upper limb?
The basilic vein originates from the dorsal venous network of the hand and ascends the medial aspect of the upper limb.
What is the most common vessel for intravenous access in the upper limb and why?
The superficial veins of the upper limb are therefore the easiest place to access this blood, and are therefore termed the 'Houseman's friend. ' The median cubital vein in the cubital fossa is the most frequently accessed vein.
What are the superficial veins of the upper extremity?
Superficial veins in the arms/upper extremities include: Digital, metacarpal, cephalic, basilic, and median veins.
What does the basilic vein drain?
The basilic vein runs down the ulnar side of the arm, and also helps in draining the dorsal venous network of the hand. It is shorter than the cephalic vein, and terminates once it joins the brachial vein near the elbow.
Which veins drain the head neck and upper extremities?
Answer and Explanation: The blood vessels that drain the head, neck, and upper extremities are known as brachiocephalic vein.
Which vessel drains the upper limbs quizlet?
They then run deeply until they join with the brachial veins to form axillary veins. They drain the skin and superficial muscles of the medial aspect of the upper limb. These veins connect the basilic veins to the cephalic veins on the anterior elbow.
What are the deep veins of the lower extremity?
There are seven deep veins located in the lower extremities, they include:Popliteal.Peroneal.Profunda femoris.Common femoral.Femoral.Anterior tibial.Posterio tibial.
Is subclavian vein a deep vein?
The subclavian vein (SVC) is classified as a deep vein and is the major venous channel that drains the upper extremities. Other deep veins of the upper extremity that accompany the major arteries include the radial, ulnar, brachial, axillary veins.
Is the saphenous vein a deep vein?
Great Saphenous Vein (GSV) – The GSV is the large superficial vein of the leg and the longest vein in the entire body. It can be found along the length of the lower limb, returning blood from the thigh, calf, and foot to the deep femoral vein at the femoral triangle. The femoral triangle is located in the upper thigh.
What does the subclavian vein drain?
The primary function of the subclavian vein is to drain deoxygenated blood from the upper region of the body—including the arms and the shoulder areas—and transport it back to the heart. 6 Another important function of the subclavian is to collect lymph fluid from the lymphatic system from the internal jugular vein.
What does the radial vein drain?
The main function of the radial vein is to drain the venous blood from the deep structures of the hand, the lateral forearm and the elbow joint. It ends near the elbow joint by anastomosing with the ulnar vein and forming the brachial vein.
What do cubital veins drain?
The median cubital vein (antecubital vein) is a prominent superficial upper limb vessel. Its location is in the cubital fossa, on the anterior/flexor aspect of the elbow joint....Median cubital vein.Drains fromCephalic veinDrains toBasilic vein, brachial veinsDrainage areaHand, wrist, forearm1 more row
Which superficial vein of the upper limb is a common site for venipuncture?
The one of most common site for venipuncture is the superficial veins in the cubital fossa of upper limbs which include the cephalic, basilic, median cubital, and antebrachial veins and their tributaries.
Which artery is located within and supplies blood to the upper arm?
The brachial arteryThe brachial artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to your upper arm, elbow, forearm and hand. It starts in your upper arm, just below your shoulder, and runs down through the crease in front of your elbow.
Which of the following arteries occurs in the upper extremity?
The brachial artery is the extension of the axillary artery starting at the lower margin of the teres major muscle and is the major artery of the upper extremity.
What is the PT vein?
The posterior tibial veins drain the posterior compartment of the leg, ankle joint and plantar surface of the foot. They are formed from a confluence of the medial and lateral plantar veins of the foot and follow the posterior tibial artery along its course, accompanying it in the tarsal tunnel.
What are the veins of the upper extremities?
Veins of the upper limb. Veins of the upper extremities are grouped into deep veins which are accompanying veins of arteries from which they derive their names (Latin: vena comitantes), and superficial veins. Both groups of veins interconnect with one another and return blood from all parts of the upper limb to other veins ...
What vein drains the forearm?
Like in the forearm, the arm is drained by the brachial veins (deep veins that accompany the brachial artery) and all its branches. In addition, the basilic and cephalic veins course upwards through the subcutaneous tissue and drain the superficial regions of the arm.
Why is the tourniquet removed from the cubital vein?
Once the vein is punctured, the tourniquet is removed so that when the needle is removed the vein will not bleed extensively. The cubital veins are also a site for the introduction of cardiac catheters to secure blood samples from the great vessels and chambers of the heart.
How many parts of the axillary vein are there?
There are three parts of the axillary vein, the first distal part into which the cephalic vein enters (at a point just superior to the pectoralis minor muscle), and the second and third parts, which give off branches corresponding to the tributaries off the axillary artery.
Why is it dangerous to have a wound in the axillary vein?
A wound in the proximal part of the axillary vein is particularly dangerous, not only because of profuse bleeding but also because of the risk of air entering it and producing air emboli (air bubbles) in the blood.
Where does the syringe drain?
It drains subcutaneous tissue of the anterior part of the wrist and forearm. It bifurcates at the elbow (approximately within the cubital fossa) into the median cephalic and median basilic veins (producing an “M” formation of cubital veins). The latter receives a deep vein of the forearm.
Which vein is used for sampling and transfusion of blood and intravenous injections?
Usually, the median cubital vein or the basilic vein is selected.
What is the deep vein system?
Deep Veins. The deep venous system of the upper limb is situated underneath the deep fascia. It is formed by paired veins, which accompany and lie either side of an artery. In the upper extremity, the deep veins share the name of the artery they accompany.
Where are the superficial veins located?
The major superficial veins of the upper limb are the cephalic and basilic veins. They are located within the subcutaneous tissue of the upper limb. The basilic vein originates from the dorsal venous network of the hand and ascends the medial aspect of the upper limb.
What is the venous system of the upper limb?
Venous Drainage of the Upper Limb. The venous system of the upper limb drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, forearm and hand. It can be subdivided into the superficial system and the deep system.
Where does the cephalic vein travel?
At the shoulder, the cephalic vein travels between the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles (known as the deltopectoral groove), and enters the axilla region via the clavipectoral triangle. Within the axilla, the cephalic vein empties into axillary vein.
Which veins are the largest in size?
The brachial veins are the largest in size, and are situated either side of the brachial artery. The pulsations of the brachial artery assist the venous return. Veins that are structured in this way are known as vena comitantes.
Which veins form the axillary vein?
Here, it combines with the brachial veins from the deep venous system to form the axillary vein. Cephalic Vein. The cephalic vein also arises from the dorsal venous network of the hand. It ascends the antero-lateral aspect of the upper limb, passing anteriorly at the elbow.
What is the venous system?
The venous system of the upper limb drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, forearm and hand. It can be subdivided into the superficial system and the deep system. In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the upper limb veins – their anatomical course, structure, and their clinical relevance.
What is UEDVT in medical terms?
Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is defined as thrombosis of the deep venous system (subclavian, axillary, brachial, ulnar, and radial veins), which drains the upper extremities. It can be caused by thoracic outlet anatomic obstruction, such as Paget-Schroetter syndrome, (primary) or by central intravenous catheters (secondary).
What is UEDVT treatment?
UEDVT is managed by anticoagulant treatment. In addition to that, early thrombolysis aimed at preventing post-deep vein thrombosis syndrome and thoracic outlet decompression surgery should be given to patients with primary UEDVT.
What is a UEDVT?
Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is defined as thrombosis of the deep venous system (subclavian, axillary, brachial, ulnar, and radial veins), which drains the upper extremities .
What are the deep veins?
The deep veins comprise: venae comitantes, which accompany the large arteries, like radial, ulnar, and brachial arteries. venae comitantes of the brachial artery. axillary vein. Venae comitantes of the radial and ulnar arteries accompany the radial and ulnar arteries, respectively, and join to create the brachial veins.
Which vein drains more efficiently?
The preaxial vein (cephalic vein) is longer compared to the postaxial vein (basilic vein), but the postaxial basilic vein drains more efficiently. The load of long cephalic vein is greatly relieved as a good amount of its blood is transferred to the efficient basilic vein by the median cubital vein (communicate channel).
What are the two dorsal digital veins of the thumb?
2 dorsal digital veins of the thumb. Veins draining palm of hand. These are (a) veins that circulate the margins of the hand and (b) perforating veins, which pass dors ally via the interosseous spaces . The dorsal venous arch drains into cephalic and basilic veins—the efferent vessels of dorsal venous arch.
Where is the median vein of the forearm?
Median Vein of the Forearm. Median vein of the forearm begins from palmar venous network, runs upwards in the midline on the anterior aspect of forearm to end in any 1 of 3 veins in front of elbow (viz. cephalic, basilic, and median cubital veins). Sometimes the upper end of median vein of the forearm bifurcates into median cephalic ...
Which vein goes into the right atrium?
To goes into the right atrium the catheter enters in succession as follows: Basilic vein —> axillary vein —> subclavian vein —> brachiocephalic vein —> superior vena cava —> right atrium of the heart. The cephalic vein isn’t preferred for cardiac catheterization because of the following reasons:
Where is the basilic vein located?
The basilic vein begins as the continuation of the medial end of the dorsal venous arch of the hand. It runs upwards along the back of the medial border of the forearm, winds round this border near the elbow to reach the anterior aspect of the forearm, where it continues upwards in front of the elbow along the medial side of the biceps brachii up to the middle of the arm, where it pierces deep fascia, unites together with the brachial veins and runs along the medial side of the brachial artery to become continuous with the axillary vein at the lower border of the teres major.
Which vein is preferred for cardiac catheterization?
The cut-down of cephalic vein in the deltopectoral groove is preferred when the superior vena cava infusion is essential. The basilic vein is preferred for cardiac catheterization for the following reasons: The diameter of basilic vein increases as it ascends from cubital fossa to the axillary vein.
