Venous Drainage of the Upper Limb
The venous system of the upper limb drains deoxygenated blood from the arm, forearm and hand. It can be subdivided into the superficial system and the deep system. In this article, we shall look at the anatomy of the upper limb veins – their anatomical course, structure, and their clinical relevance. Superficial Veins The major superficial veins of the upper limb are the cephalic and basilic veins. They are located within the subcutaneous tissue of the upper limb. Basilic Vein The basilic vein originates from the dorsal venous network of the hand and ascends the medial aspect of the upper limb. At the border of the teres major, the vein moves deep into the arm. Here, it combines with the brachial veins from the deep venous system to form the axillary vein . Cephalic Vein The cephalic vein also arises from the dorsal venous network of the hand. It ascends the antero-lateral aspect of the upper limb, passing anter...