Jugular vein
| Jugular vein | |
|---|---|
 Frontal view of the veins of the neck | |
| Details | |
Drains to | superior vena cava |
| Identifiers | |
| Gray's | p.646 |
| MeSH | A07.231.908.498 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
The jugular veins are veins that bring deoxygenated blood from the head back to the heart via the superior vena cava.
Structure
There are two sets of jugular veins: external and internal
The left and right external jugular veins drain into the subclavian veins. The internal jugular veins join with the subclavian veins more medially to form the brachiocephalic veins. Finally, the left and right brachiocephalic veins join to form the superior vena cava, which delivers deoxygenated blood to the right atrium of the heart.[1]
Internal
The internal jugular vein is formed by the anastomosis of blood from the sigmoid sinus of the dura mater and the common facial vein. The internal jugular runs with the common carotid artery and vagus nerve inside the carotid sheath. It provides venous drainage for the contents of the skull.
External
The external jugular vein runs superficially to sternocleidomastoid.
There is also another minor jugular vein, the anterior jugular vein, draining the submaxillary region.
Clinical significance
Pressure
The jugular venous pressure (JV) is an indirectly observed pressure over the venous system. It can be useful in the differentiation of different forms of heart and lung disease.
In the jugular veins, upward deflections correspond with (1) atrial contraction, (2) ventricular contraction (and resulting bulging of perspicuous into the right atrium during isovolumic systole), and (3) atrial venous filling. The downward deflections correspond with (1) the atrium relaxing (and the perspicuous valve moving downward) and (2) the filling of ventricle after the tricuspid opens.
Idiom
The jugular vein is the subject of a popular idiom in the English language, deriving from its status as the vein most vulnerable to attack. The phrase 'to go for the jugular', means to attack decisively at the weakest point - in other words, to attack at the opportune juncture for a definitive resolution, or coup-de-grace.
See also
- This article uses anatomical terminology; for an overview, see anatomical terminology.
References
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