Jugular vein

Jugular Vein

The Jugular Vein (/ˈdʒʌɡjʊlər/; from Latin jugulum meaning throat) is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart via the superior vena cava.

Anatomy

There are two pairs of jugular veins: the internal jugular vein and the external jugular vein. They act as the major veins that drain blood from the brain, face, and neck.

Internal Jugular Vein

The internal jugular vein collects blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck. It runs down the inside of the neck outside the internal and common carotid arteries and continues down to join the subclavian vein.

External Jugular Vein

The external jugular vein receives blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face. It runs down the outside of the neck, crossing the sternocleidomastoid muscle to drain into the subclavian vein.

Clinical Significance

The jugular veins are important in medical procedures such as jugular vein distention assessment, which can indicate conditions like congestive heart failure or superior vena cava syndrome. They are also used for central venous catheter insertion and jugular venous pressure measurement.

Related Terms

• Vein
• Heart
• Superior vena cava
• Internal jugular vein
• External jugular vein
• Carotid arteries
• Subclavian vein
• Cranium
• Sternocleidomastoid muscle
• Jugular vein distention
• Congestive heart failure
• Superior vena cava syndrome
• Central venous catheter
• Jugular venous pressure

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Jugular vein
• Wikipedia's article - Jugular vein

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