Superficial Veins of Upper Limbs

Learning Objectives

At the end of session, students will be able to understand the :

 Anatomy of veins of upper limb.

 Difference between superficial and deep veins.

 Applied anatomy of superficial veins of upper limb. Superficial Veins of Upper Limbs

Lecture Outline

Cephalic vein:

 Arises from the lateral side of the dorsal venous network and runs on the lateral side of the forearm and the front of the elbow.

 It is often connected with the basilic vein by the median cubital vein in front of the elbow.

 It winds around the lateral border of the forearm, then ascends into the cubital fossa and up the front of the arm on the lateral side of the biceps.

 It continues up in the deltopectoral groove and pierces clavipectoral fascia in the floor of the groove to drain into axillary vein.

Basilic vein:

 Arises from the medial side of the dorsal venous network of hand.

 Winds around the medial border of the forearm.

 Then ascends into the cubital fossa and up the front of the arm on the medial side of the biceps to middle of the arm where it pierces the deep fascia and joins the brachial vein or axillary vein. Median cubital vein:

 Links cephalic vein and basilic vein in the cubital fossa.

 It is a frequent site for venipuncture to remove a sample of blood or add fluid to the blood.

Pectoral Region

Deep structures:

 Deep fascia

 Superficial layer  Deep layer — clavipectoral fascia

 The deep fascia which extends between subclavius, coracoid process and pectoralis minor muscles

 The structures pass through the clavipectoral fascia

 Cephalic v.

 Thoracoacromial a.

 Lateral pectoral n. Median antebrachial vein

 Arises in the palmar venous network, ascends on the front of the forearm, and terminates in the median cubital or the basilic vein.

Veins of the Forearm 1. Cephalic vein 2. Median Cubital vein 3. Accessory Cephalic vein 4. Basilic vein 5. Cephalic vein 6. Median antebrachial vein

Applied importance of Superficial veins

 These are used for vene puncture

(a) Diagram of veins in a forearm showing the antecubital fossa area where blood samples are taken, (b) Venous blood sample being taken from a vein in the antecubital fossa using a venepuncture vacuum system. Dorsal venous network:

 Receives dorsal digital veins by means of dorsal metacarpal veins.

 Also receives palmar digital veins by means of intercapitular and palmar metacarpal veins.

 Its radial part is continued proximally as the cephalic vein, and its ulnar part is continued proximally as the basilic vein.

Axillary vein

Formed at the lower border of the teres major by the union the brachial vein and the basilic vein

 Runs upward on the medial side of the axillary artery  Ends at the lateral border of the first rib by becoming the subclavian vein Veins Of Upper Limb Blood Supply: Veins  SUPERFICIAL VEINS

SUPERFICIAL - DORSAL VENOUS NETWORK

- CEPHALIC VEIN •Cephalic (arm-forearm)

- BASILIC VEIN •Basilic (arm-forearm) DEEP - AXILLARY VEIN •Subclavian (neck) ( BASILIC+ BRACHIAL VEIN) •Axillary (axilla)

- MEDIAN CUBITAL VEIN •Median Cubital (elbow) •Median Vein - MEDIAN VEIN OF FOREARM •Brachial (arm-elbow)

•SF. Palmar Venous Arch - DEEP VEINS •Digital - NAMED ACCORDING TO •Radial (forearm) COMPANIAN ARTERIES •Ulnar (forearm) •Deep Palmous Venous arch - RADIAL VEIN

- ULNAR VEIN

- BRACHIAL VEIN pg 547

- AXILLARY VEIN