Veins of the Arm: Cutaneous Innervation and Venous Drainage

Medical vector illustration of the shoulder anatomy with nerves, veins and arteries, etc.

Cephalic Vein

Image: “Veins of the Arm: Cephalic Vein & Basilic Vein” by Henry Gray. License: Public Domain

Starting around the radial area of what is known as the dorsal venous network, the cephalic vein continues towards the upper part of the body circularly throughout the forearm, interacting with tributaries along the way. The median basilic vein, located in the lower part of the elbow, works as a communicator in the arm.

Continuing upwards through the forward part of the elbow, the cephalic vein makes its way through the valley created by the biceps brachii and the brachioradialis on either side of it. Through this pattern, the cephalic vein comes in contact with the musculocutaneous nerve, continuing up next to the biceps brachii.

The cephalic vein also travels between the deltoideus on one side of it, with the pectoralis major on the other side. In this area, joining it is the deltoid branch of the thoracoacromial artery. Next, the cephalic vein travels through the coracoclavicular fascia. It then moves past the axillary artery, completing its journey at the axillary vein in the area under the clavicle. The cephalic vein can also interact with the external jugular vein via the clavicle connection.

Image: “Cephalic Vein – Anatomical Dissections” by Anatomist90. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

Accessory Cephalic Vein

Another part of the upper limb that emerges as important is the accessory cephalic vein. It can be found with either the tributary plexus or within the ulnar area, making up the dorsal venous part of the upper limb. In some individuals, the cephalic area on the upper side of the wrist is connected to the accessory cephalic. Joining the basilic and cephalic veins through part of the forearm is part of the oblique muscles.

Basilica Vein

Another important upper limb portion to discuss in more detail is the basilic vein. It starts within the ulnar area of the dorsal venous network. It travels a bit in the arm area until it connects with the vena mediana cubiti. To meet the vena mediana cubiti, this vein climbs upwards in the back area of the ulnar spot within the forearm, settling in the lower part of the elbow.

Continuing upwards in the valley sides of the biceps brachii and the pronator teres, the basilica vein passes over the area of the brachial artery. It is kept from connecting with the brachial artery by the lacertus fibrosis. The medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve can also be found on both sides of the basilic vein.

Following this, the basilica vein then continues up, meeting alongside the Biceps brachii’s medial border. Slightly under the middle arm area, it interacts with the deep fascia. The basilica vein then continues down, residing on the bra chart artery’s medial side. It can then be found around the teres major’s lower area, moving towards the axillary vein area.

Median Antebrachial Vein

Image: “Veins of the Arm – Anatomical dissections” by Anatomist90. License: CC BY-SA 3.0

The next important vein that is part of the upper extremities is the median antebrachial vein. The purpose of this vein is to drain the venous plexus area of the hand as it moves up through the front part of the arm. The median antebrachial vein ends around the basilic vein.

Deep Veins

Image: “Deep Veins of the Arm” by Henry Gray. License: Public Domain

The deep veins in this area of the body are important to the arteries and make up the venae comitantes. Most of the deep veins also come in sets of two, making their homes on either side of the artery. Transverse branches typically join the two veins together.

Within the venae comitantes are both radian and ulnar veins. Typically, the ulnar veins are larger, while the radial veins interact with the dorsal metacarpal veins. On the other hand, the ulnar veins interact more with tributaries that deal with deep volar venous arches, causing them to have more to do with the wrist area of a human being. This interaction is message sending, which follows the profunda vein up into the vena mediana cubiti.

Then, on both sides of the brachial artery, one can find the brachial veins. The brachial veins connect with the axillary vein, and the axillary vein then connects with the basilic vein. The deep veins both act with and connect with other deep veins as well as some of the superficial veins.

Axillary Vein

Image: “Anterior view of right upper limb and thorax – axillary vein and the distal part of the basilic vein and cephalic vein” by Henry Gray. License: Public Domain

One of these important veins is the axillary vein; as already discussed, it works with the basilic vein. The axillary vein can be found in the bottom area of the teres major, enlarging as it progresses upward through the body, completing its journey near the subclavian vein.

The axillary vein has areas that communicate with both the brachial veins and the cephalic vein while simultaneously approaching the axillary artery. The axillary vein resides near the axillary artery, following it at times around the brachial plexus near the medial anterior thoracic nerves.

The next important vein is the subclavian vein, which is also an extension of the axillary vein. It can be found around an individual’s first rib, and the other side is near the sternal side of the clavicle. The subclavian vein then meets with the jugular, and this connection makes up what is known as the innominate vein.

To the front of this vein it exists near the clavicle and subclavius, whereas on the other side of the vein, it sits near the subclavian artery. Two nerves keep this vein apart from the artery: the scalenus anterior as well as the phrenic nerve. The subclavian vein also is made up of a pair of valves. It can rise upwards through the body as high as the neck.

Cutaneous innervation

Cutaneous nerves that supply the skin of the upper limb are called Dermatomes. Each dermatome is innervated by a spinal cord segment: C3-T3.

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