Supraclavicular cephalic vein draining into the internal jugular vein via the external jugular vein

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to report rare anatomical variations of the cephalic vein (CV) in a 77-year-old Korean male cadaver.

Case report: On the right upper arm, the CV located lateral to the deltopectoral groove passed anterior to the clavicle at the lateral one-fourth of the clavicle without anastomosis to the axillary vein. It was connected to the transverse cervical and suprascapular veins by two communicating branches in the middle of its course at the neck, and opened into the external jugular vein at its junction with the internal jugular veins. The suprascapular and anterior jugular veins were flowed into the subclavian vein at the jugulo-subclavian venous confluence, and were connected by a short communicating branch.

Conclusion: Detailed knowledge of the variations in the CV is expected to be helpful in decreasing unpredicted injuries and possible postoperative complications when invasive venous access is performed through the CV.

Keywords: Cephalic vein; External jugular vein; Supraclavicular course; Suprascapular vein; Variation.