Corpus: Cephalic vein

The cephalic vein is a large epifascial vein of the upper extremity.

The cephalic vein begins on the dorsal surface of the thumb and is fed from the dorsal venous network of the hand. It proceeds as the cephalic vein of the forearm on the radial side of the forearm, runs over the elbow crease, then along the lateral side of the biceps brachii muscle to finally enter the deltopectoral groove.

From there, it moves to the clavipectoral triangle, where it drains into the axillary vein. It anastomoses with both deep and other superficial veins of the upper extremity, including the median cubital vein and the basilic vein in the elbow crease.

The cephalic vein is a relatively large-lumen vein that is well suited for blood withdrawal as well as for the placement of a peripheral venous catheter (PVC). It is also used in the creation of an arteriovenous shunt in the forearm (Cimino shunt).