Review of the Variations of the Superficial Veins of the Neck.

Cureus. 2018 Jun 18;10(6):e2826. doi: 10.7759/cureus.2826.

Dalip D, Iwanaga J, Loukas M, Oskouian RJ, Tubbs RS.

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Abstract

The venous drainage of the neck can be characterized into superficial or deep. Superficial drainage refers to the venous drainage of the subcutaneous tissues, which are drained by the anterior and external jugular veins (EJVs). The brain, face, and neck structures are mainly drained by the internal jugular vein (IJV). The superficial veins are found deep to the platysma muscle while the deep veins are found encased in the carotid sheath. The junction of the retromandibular vein and the posterior auricular vein usually form the EJV, which continues along to drain into the subclavian vein. The anterior jugular vein is usually formed by the submandibular veins, travels downward anterior to the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), and drains either into the EJV or the subclavian vein. Other superficial veins of the neck to consider are the superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins. The superior thyroid and middle thyroid veins drain into the IJV whereas the inferior thyroid vein usually drains into the brachiocephalic veins.

KEYWORDS:

external jugular; internal jugular; superficial; thyroid vein; vein

Figure 1

The external jugular vein formed by the retromandibular and facial veins and forming the external jugular vein, which then drains into the internal jugular vein

Figure 2

Variations in the formation of the external jugular vein

Figure 3

Various combinations of drainage of the superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins

Labels 1-3 demonstrate superior thyroid vein variations; 4-6 shows inferior thyroid vein variations; images 7-9 show variant combinations of the superior and inferior thyroid veins. Note the “median” thyroid vein formed in 7, 8, and 9.