General Medical Information

Venous Supply

Susan D. John
Michael D. Maves

The veins of the neck vary considerably in their connections with each other and in their relative sizes. Those conducting blood downward from the head and face include the external jugular, anterior jugular, internal jugular, and vertebral veins. At the base of the neck are the suprascapular and transverse cervical veins and the subclavian vein, which unites with the internal jugular vein to form the brachycephalic or innominate vein. The subcutaneous veins and the external and anterior jugular veins are especially variable in size and course.