Superficial Veins and
Arteries of Neck Anatomy
1. Facial artery and vein
2. Retromandibular vein
3. External jugular vein
4. Anterior jugular vein
5. Common carotid artery
6. Internal jugular vein
7. Superior thyroid artery and vein
8. External carotid artery
Comment: Superficial veins of the neck include the external
jugular vein and its principal tributaries. The external jugular vein often communicates
with the internal jugular vein, which lies deep within the carotid sheath.
The principal arteries of the neck
include major branches arising from the subclavian artery (thyrocervical and
costocervical trunks) and several branches arising from
the external carotid artery.
Clinical: Physicians use the internal jugular vein (or
external jugular) on the right side to assess the jugular venous pulse, which
provides an indication of the venous pressure in the right atrium of the heart.
If the waveform pattern of the pulse is abnormal, it may indicate some
pathology associated with right-sided congestive heart failure, a tricuspid
valve problem, or some other abnormality.
