Cephalic vein

Vein: Cephalic veins
Superficial veins of the upper limb.
Cross-section through the middle of upper arm. (Cephalic vein labeled at upper left.)
Latin	vena cephalica
Gray's	subject #172 661
Source	dorsal venous network of hand
Drains to	axillary vein, median cubital vein
Artery	deltoid branch of thoracoacromial artery

In human anatomy, the cephalic vein (or antecubital vein) is a superficial vein of the upper limb.

It communicates with the basilic vein via the median cubital vein at the elbow and is located in the superficial fascia along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle.

Superiorly the cephalic vein passes between the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles (deltopectoral groove) and through the deltopectoral triangle, where it empties into the axillary vein.

It is often visible through the skin, and its location in the deltopectoral groove is fairly consistent, making this site a good candidate for cannulation. It is often referred to as the 'House-man's Friend' for this reason and is generally a good place for cannulaton when a large bore cannula needs to be sited.

Etymology

Ordinarily the term cephalic refers to anatomy of the head. When Persian physician Ibn Sīnā's Canon was translated into medieval Latin, cephalic was mistakenly chosen to render the Arabic term al-kífal, meaning "outer".^{[1] [2]}

Additional images

• 

  Cross-section through the middle of the forearm.

• 

  The veins on the dorsum of the hand.

• 

  The deep veins of the upper extremity.

References

External links

• SUNY Labs 07:st-0702
• SUNY Radiology UpperLimb:18VenoFo