Veins of Upper Limb - Cephalic, Basilic, Medial Cubital and Deep Veins

Veins of Upper Limb presented by Satwika Potla
ASR Homeopathic Medical College

1. Veins of Upper Limb Veins – Cephalic Vein, Basilic Vein, Median Cubital Vein, Median Vein of Forearm and Deep Vein

2. Student Name : Satwika Potla 1 st BHMS Year : 2024 – 2025 Under the Guidance of Prof Dr Ananda Kumar Pingali, MD, (PhD) Head of the Department of Anatomy ASR Homeopathic Medical College, Tadepalligudem

3. Cephalic Vein The Cephalic Vein is the preaxial vein of upper limb, similar to great saphenous vein in the lower limb. Origin : Lateral end of the dorsal venous arch Courses : i) Passes through the roof of anatomical snuffbox ii) Winds around the lateral forearm Iii) Runs upward, in front of the elbow, along the lateral biceps iv) Pierces the deep fascia near Pectoralis major v) Travels in the deltopectoral groove to the infraclavicular fossa vi) Pierces the clavipectoral fascia and joins axillary vein At elbow, most blood drains into the basilic vein via the Median cubital vein and partly into deep veins through a Perforator vein.

4. Basilic Vein The Basilic vein is the postaxial vein of the upper limb, similar to the short saphenous vein in the lower limb. Origin : Medial end of the dorsal venous arch Course : a) Runs upward along the medial forearm b) Winds around the medial border near the elbow. c) Continues in front of the medial epicondyle and along the medial biceps d) Pierces the deep fascia at the middle of the arm e) Travels along the brachial artery and becomes the axillary vein at teres major It recieves the median cubital vein about 2.5cm above the medial epicondyle

5. Median Cubital Vein The median cubital vein is a large communicating vein that shunts blood from the cephalic vein to the basilic vein. a) Begins 2.5 cm below the elbow from the cephalic vein. b) Runs obliquely upward and medially c) Ends 2.5 cm above the medial epicondyle in the basilic vein d) Separated from brachial artery by the bicipital aponeurosis It may receive tributaries from the median vein of the forearm and connects to deep veins through a perforator vein, making it ideal for IV injections.

6. Median Vein of Forearm Median vein of forearm begins from the palmar venous network, and ends in any one of the veins in front of the elbow mostly in median cubital vein.

7. Deep Veins Deep veins begin as small as venae comitantes running on each side of digital veins. These continue proximally as superficial and deep palmar arches. These course proximally to continue as venae comitantes of radial and ulnar arteries ; which further join to form the brachial veins. Brachial veins lie on each side of brachial artery. Thes join the axillary vin at lower border of teres major. The Axillary vein continues in the axilla.