Veins Associated with the Head and Neck

VEINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEAD AND NECK ANATOMY

The external jugular veins, made famous via vampire movies, are responsible for draining the scalp, some of the facial area, and the superficial neck regions.

VEINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEAD AND NECK STRUCTURE

Drawing down the lateral side of the neck, these veins are superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle and then alternatively run deep into the platysma muscle. They then follow the system to the left and right subclavian veins which are positioned right beneath the clavicle.

The internal jugular veins are responsible for the drainage of the brain and meninges, as well as the deeper regions of the facial area and the neck. These veins run deeper into the interior portions of the body and are larger than the external jugular veins. A variety of cranial venous sinuses yield the internal jugular veins, which can be located in between the two layers of dura mater.

The venous sinuses are responsible for the reception of blood from the cerebral, cerebellar, ophthalmic, and meningeal veins. Tucked away in the inferior region of the neck, the internal jugular vein runs down alongside the common carotid artery and the vagus nerve.

VEINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEAD AND NECK DIAGRAM

Encompassing all three of these elements the protective carotid sheath positions everything below the sternocleidomastoid muscle. The brachiocephalic vein is formed by the conjoining of the internal jugular and the subclavian veins. This occurs on each side of the body. Before the blood enters the right atrium, the two brachiocephalic veins conjoin to form the superior vena cava and empty their contents directly into the right atrium.