External jugular vein

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
External jugular vein
posterior facial vein, posterior auricular vein, retromandibular vein, anterior jugular vein, transverse cervical vein, suprascapular vein
Drains tosubclavian vein
Identifiers
Latinvena jugularis externa
TA98A12.3.05.045
TA24956
FMA13110
Anatomical terminology]

The external jugular vein receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the

cranium and the deep parts of the face, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein
.

Structure

It commences in the substance of the

sternocleidomastoideus.[1]

In its course it crosses the sternocleidomastoideus obliquely, and in the

posterior triangle
.

It is separated from the sternocleidomastoideus by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by the

platysma, the superficial fascia, and the integument; it crosses the cutaneous cervical nerve, and its upper half runs parallel with the great auricular nerve
.

Valves

It is provided with two pairs of valves, the lower pair being placed at its entrance into the subclavian vein, the upper in most cases about 4 cm above the clavicle. The portion of vein between the two sets of valves is often dilated, and is termed the sinus.

These valves do not prevent the regurgitation of the blood, or the passage of injection from below upward.[2]

Variation

The external jugular vein varies in size, bearing an inverse proportion to the other veins of the neck, it is occasionally double.[3]

Function

This vein receives the

parotid, a large branch of communication from the internal jugular
joins it.

The external jugular vein drains into the subclavian vein lateral to the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein.

Clinical significance

The external jugular is a large vein used in

prehospital medicine for venous access when the Paramedic is unable to find another peripheral vein[4] It is commonly used in cardiac arrest or other situations where the patient is unresponsive due to the pain associated with the procedure. In a cardiac arrest using this vein has the advantage that the paramedic can stay at the head and intubate the patient as well. Although many EMTs and paramedics use this vein, the American Heart Association still recommends the use of the cephalic vein
.

Additional images

  • Veins of the thoracic and abdominal regions
    Veins of the thoracic and abdominal regions
  • Muscles of the head, face, and neck.
    Muscles of the head, face, and neck.
  • Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.
    Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.
  • The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.
    The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.

See also

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 646 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. ^ [Standring, S., & Gray, H. (2016). Grays anatomy: the anatomical basis of clinical practice. Philadelphia: Elsevier. p.414]
  2. ^ Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body
  3. doi:10.4067/S0717-95022013000100016
    . Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  4. ^ http://pehsc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/EMS-Provider-Scope-of-Practice-08-28-15.pdf [bare URL PDF]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to External jugular vein.
  • lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid2)
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