![\"\"](\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/venous-drainage-head.png\")
<\/a>Description<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\nThe venous drainage of the head and neck begins from three main venous systems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Intracranial: Cerebral veins (sinuses)<\/strong><\/li>
- Superficial veins<\/strong><\/li>
- Deep veins<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
These sources form the two main veins of the neck \u2014 the internal <\/strong>and external jugular veins<\/strong>. These veins drain all of the blood from the head and neck and are somewhat comparable to the internal and external carotid arteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe schematic drawing below demonstrates the path and relation of these groups of veins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/venous-drainage-schematic-1024x1009.png\")
<\/a>Figure 2. Schematic drawing of the venous drainage<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<\/span>\nCerebral veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\nIn terms of the head (without the brain), the only cerebral veins we\u2019re concerned with right now are those who contribute to the internal jugular vein<\/strong> directly (upper mid-left side of the schematic diagram) and those that communicate between the tributaries of the facial vein<\/strong> and the cavernous sinus <\/strong>(upper right side of the schematic diagram):<\/p>\n\n\n\n- Inferior petrosal sinus<\/strong><\/li>
- Sigmoid sinus<\/strong><\/li>
- Superior and inferior ophthalmic veins<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- The two sinuses are located at the posterior cranial fossa<\/strong> and join together to form the internal jugular vein that exits through the posterior jugular foramen<\/strong><\/li>
- The superior and inferior ophthalmic veins<\/strong> are drained by the cavernous sinus<\/strong><\/li>
- The superior and inferior ophthalmic veins communicate with the superficial supratrochlear and supraorbital veins<\/li>
- The cavernous sinus and the two other sinuses (along with all other cerebral veins) communicate freely.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n
Superficial veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\nAs their name suggests, these veins drain blood from the superficial tissues such as the skin. These veins contribute to the external jugular vein.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Posterior auricular vein<\/strong><\/li>
- Posterior external jugular vein<\/strong><\/li>
- Facial vein <\/strong>(via communicating branches)<\/li>
- Anterior jugular vein<\/strong><\/li>
- Veins of the neck and scapula<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- The facial vein<\/strong> is formed after the angular vein<\/strong> which collects the superficial veins in the face that drain various parts (eyes, nose, lips).<\/li>
- The facial vein drains mostly to the internal jugular vein and joins as well to the external jugular vein via communicating branches after draining the retromandibular<\/b> and anterior jugular veins<\/strong><\/li>
- The facial vein communicates with the cerebral veins via the supratrochlear and supraorbital veins, as mentioned above, as well as the pterygoid venous plexus<\/strong>, which drains blood from regions supplied by the maxillary artery<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n
Deep veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\nThe deep veins drain the superficial and cranial veins, as well as deep structures (below the level of the skin). These veins are the terminal exit point of the blood drainage of the head and neck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Internal jugular vein<\/strong><\/li>
- External jugular vein<\/strong><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Internal jugular vein<\/strong>
- Located within the carotid sheath<\/li>
- Drains blood directly from the cranium, as well as deep structures such as the pharynx and larynx<\/li>
- The retromandibular and facial veins communicate with the internal jugular vein<\/li>
- The internal jugular vein finally drains to the brachiocephalic vein<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- External jugular vein<\/strong><\/li>
- Located externally to the sternocleidomastoid muscle<\/li>
- Collects blood mainly from superficial tributaries, but it also communicates with the retromandibular and facial veins<\/li>
- The external jugular vein finally drains to the subclavian vein<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<\/span>\n
Clinical information<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/span>\nThe danger triangle of the face<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\nThe communication between the superficial facial veins and the cerebral veins opens easy access for the spread of infections. This communication is bidirectional (blood can flow in both directions) as there are no valves in these vessels. This region is known as the danger triangle<\/strong>. Never pop pimples in this region!<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\nIntravenous cannulation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\nIntravenous cannulation is the insertion of a cannula (tube) into the venous circulation, used for the administration of medication, fluids, nutrition, and blood products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most often, the veins of the hand or arm are used for this purpose. In some cases, however, there’s a need for central venous cannulation <\/strong>(also known as central venous line, or central venous access catheter), in which the cannula is inserted into a large vein, such as in patients that require long-term cannulation, or patients with poor peripheral venous access.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe veins that can be used for this purpose include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Subclavian vein<\/li>
- External jugular vein<\/li>
- Internal jugular vein<\/li>
- Common femoral vein<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/danger-triangle-face-300x300.png\")
<\/a>Figure<\/strong><\/strong> 3. The danger triangle of the face<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/meddists.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cannulation_sites-300x231.png\")
<\/a>Figure 4. IV cannulation<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<\/span>\nReferences<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n- Figure 1. <\/strong>OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/li>
- Figure 4.<\/strong> Glynda Rees Doyle and Jodie Anita McCutcheon, from Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care, CC BY-SA 4.0<\/li><\/ol>\n<\/span>
These sources form the two main veins of the neck \u2014 the internal <\/strong>and external jugular veins<\/strong>. These veins drain all of the blood from the head and neck and are somewhat comparable to the internal and external carotid arteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The schematic drawing below demonstrates the path and relation of these groups of veins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of the head (without the brain), the only cerebral veins we\u2019re concerned with right now are those who contribute to the internal jugular vein<\/strong> directly (upper mid-left side of the schematic diagram) and those that communicate between the tributaries of the facial vein<\/strong> and the cavernous sinus <\/strong>(upper right side of the schematic diagram):<\/p>\n\n\n\n As their name suggests, these veins drain blood from the superficial tissues such as the skin. These veins contribute to the external jugular vein.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The deep veins drain the superficial and cranial veins, as well as deep structures (below the level of the skin). These veins are the terminal exit point of the blood drainage of the head and neck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The communication between the superficial facial veins and the cerebral veins opens easy access for the spread of infections. This communication is bidirectional (blood can flow in both directions) as there are no valves in these vessels. This region is known as the danger triangle<\/strong>. Never pop pimples in this region!<\/p>\n\n\n<\/span>\n Intravenous cannulation is the insertion of a cannula (tube) into the venous circulation, used for the administration of medication, fluids, nutrition, and blood products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most often, the veins of the hand or arm are used for this purpose. In some cases, however, there’s a need for central venous cannulation <\/strong>(also known as central venous line, or central venous access catheter), in which the cannula is inserted into a large vein, such as in patients that require long-term cannulation, or patients with poor peripheral venous access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The veins that can be used for this purpose include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Cerebral veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Superficial veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Deep veins<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Clinical information<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
The danger triangle of the face<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
Intravenous cannulation<\/h4>\n<\/span>\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a>References<\/h3>\n<\/span>\n\n\n