jugular vein, vena jugularis, jugular

veins in the neck that return blood from the head

• anterior jugular vein — arises below the chin from veins draining the lower face; joins the external jugular vein
• external jugular vein — formed by the junction of the posterior auricular and the retromandibular veins; empties into the subclavian vein
• internal jugular vein — a continuation of the sigmoid sinus of the dura mater; joins the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein

• vein, vena — a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart; all veins except the pulmonary carry unaerated blood

• neck, cervix — the part of an organism that connects the head to the rest of the body