External jugular vein
Encyclopedia
The external jugular vein receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and the deep parts of the face
, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein
.
, on a level with the angle of the mandible
, and runs perpendicularly down the neck, in the direction of a line drawn from the angle of the mandible to the middle of the clavicle at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus.
In its course it crosses the sternocleidomastoideus obliquely, and in the subclavian triangle
perforates the deep fascia
, and ends in the subclavian vein
lateral to or in front of the scalenus anterior
, piercing the roof of the posterior triangle.
It is separated from the sternocleidomastoideus by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by the platysma, the superficial fascia, and the integument; it crosses the cutaneous cervical nerve, and its upper half runs parallel with the great auricular nerve.
The external jugular vein varies in size, bearing an inverse proportion to the other veins of the neck, it is occasionally double.
The external jugular vein drains into the subclavian vein lateral to the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein.
These valves do not prevent the regurgitation of the blood, or the passage of injection from below upward.
occasionally, the posterior external jugular, and, near its termination, the transverse cervical, transverse scapular, and anterior jugular vein
s; in the substance of the parotid, a large branch of communication from the internal jugular joins it.
Face
The face is a central sense organ complex, for those animals that have one, normally on the ventral surface of the head, and can, depending on the definition in the human case, include the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyelashes, eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, philtrum, temple, teeth, skin, and...
, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein
Posterior auricular vein
The posterior auricular vein begins upon the side of the head, in a plexus which communicates with the tributaries of the occipital vein and superficial temporal veins....
.
Path
It commences in the substance of the parotid glandParotid gland
The paired parotid glands are the largest of the salivary glands. They are each found wrapped around the mandibular ramus, and secrete saliva through Stensen's ducts into the oral cavity, to facilitate mastication and swallowing and to begin the digestion of starches.-Location:The parotid glands...
, on a level with the angle of the mandible
Angle of the mandible
At the junction of the lower border of the ramus of the mandible with the posterior border is the angle of the mandible, which may be either inverted or everted and is marked by rough, oblique ridges on each side, for the attachment of the Masseter laterally, and the Pterygoideus internus medially;...
, and runs perpendicularly down the neck, in the direction of a line drawn from the angle of the mandible to the middle of the clavicle at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoideus.
In its course it crosses the sternocleidomastoideus obliquely, and in the subclavian triangle
Subclavian triangle
The subclavian triangle , the smaller division of the posterior triangle, is bounded, above, by the inferior belly of the Omohyoideus; below, by the clavicle; its base is formed by the posterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus.Its floor is formed by the first rib with the first digitation of...
perforates the deep fascia
Deep fascia
Deep fascia is a layer of fascia which can surround individual muscles, and divide groups of muscles into compartments....
, and ends in the subclavian vein
Subclavian vein
The subclavian veins are two large veins, one on either side of the body. Their diameter is approximately that of the smallest finger.-Path:Each subclavian vein is a continuation of the axillary vein and runs from the outer border of the first rib to the medial border of anterior scalene muscle...
lateral to or in front of the scalenus anterior
Scalenus anterior
The Scalenus anterior , also known as anterior scalene muscle, lies deeply at the side of the neck, behind the Sternocleidomastoideus.-Anatomy:...
, piercing the roof of the posterior triangle.
It is separated from the sternocleidomastoideus by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by the platysma, the superficial fascia, and the integument; it crosses the cutaneous cervical nerve, and its upper half runs parallel with the great auricular nerve.
The external jugular vein varies in size, bearing an inverse proportion to the other veins of the neck, it is occasionally double.
The external jugular vein drains into the subclavian vein lateral to the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein.
Valves
It is provided with two pairs of valves, the lower pair being placed at its entrance into the subclavian vein, the upper in most cases about 4 cm above the clavicle. The portion of vein between the two sets of valves is often dilated, and is termed the sinus.These valves do not prevent the regurgitation of the blood, or the passage of injection from below upward.
Tributaries
This vein receives the occipitalOccipital vein
The occipital vein begins as a plexus at the posterior aspect of the scalp from the external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line to the back part of the vertex of the skull....
occasionally, the posterior external jugular, and, near its termination, the transverse cervical, transverse scapular, and anterior jugular vein
Anterior jugular vein
The anterior jugular vein begins near the hyoid bone by the confluence of several superficial veins from the submaxillary region.It descends between the median line and the anterior border of the Sternocleidomastoideus, and, at the lower part of the neck, passes beneath that muscle to open into the...
s; in the substance of the parotid, a large branch of communication from the internal jugular joins it.