Major veins of the upper limbs are formed by communicating many subcutaneous (or superficial) veins. These include two main veins:

1. The basilic vein (v.basilica)

   

2. The cephalic vein (v.cephalica)

In this video, we will consider the anatomy, areas of blood drainage and anastomoses of the basilic vein (v. basilica)

It arises from the venous plexus of the hand (rete venosum manus) on the medial side and is a direct continuation of the fourth dorsal metacarpal vein (venae dorsales metacarpales).

This large vein is located on the back of the hand, as well as on the medial side of the forearm along the bend of the elbow, passes to the arm between the fibers of the biceps brachii muscle. Next, the vein penetrates into the brachial fascia and ends by the brachial vein (v. brachialis).

The basilic vein has many anastomoses with the cephalic vein along its course.

The largest anastomosis is located in the area of the bend of the elbow and is formed with the intermediate cubital vein (v.intermedia cubiti). This anastomosis has its own anatomical variants of the structure and may be N-shaped or M-shaped.

The latter variant is possible with the confluence of the basilic and cephalic veins (v.intermedia basilica et v.intermedia cephalica). They, in turn, are a continuation of the intermediate antebrachial vein (v.intermedia antebrachii).

The intermediate ulnar vein communicates with the deep antebrachial veins by an anastomotic vessel (vas anastomoticum).

Tributaries of the basilic are the following vessels:

1. Vein to the inferior ulnar collateral artery (v.comitans arteriae collateralis ulnaris inferioris), which drains blood from the ulnar veins and brings it to the basilic vein in the region of the cubital fossa.

   

2. The dorsal venous network of the hand (rete venosum dorsale manum), which ends directly by the basilic vein. It drains blood from the dorsum of the palm.

   

3. Intercapitular veins (vv.intercapitulares), wgucg end by the dorsal venous plexus and carry blood from the dorsal surface of the fingers two to five.

   

4. The dorsal digital veins (vv.digitales dorsalis) of the fingers two to five, which drain blood from the middle and distal phalanges of the fingers and end by the intercapitular veins.

As mentioned before, the tributaries of the basilic vein, in addition to the cephalic veins, are the deep antebrachial veins. These are indirect tributaries, they communicate with the medial vein through an anastomotic trunk:

1. Ulnar veins (vv. ulnares)

   

   

2. Radial veins (vv. radiales)

   

   

3. The deep palmar venous arch (arcus venosus palmaris profundus). It forms the ulnar and radial veins on the right and left upper limbs.

   

4. Palmar metacarpal veins and the vein of the thumb (vv.metacarpales palmares et vena princeps pollicis) end by the deep venous arch.

   

5. Palmar digital veins (vv.digitales palmares)

   

6. Anterior interosseous veins (vv.interosseae anteriores)

It is worth noting that these veins are common tributarie or both the basilic and the cephalic veins.

The region of the bend of the elbow or the anterior cubital region (regio cubiti anterior), where the intermediate ulnar vein passes, has important anatomical significance. The skin and subcutaneous fat in this region are very thin and mobile, so that the basilic and the cephalic veins are clearly visible and accessible for intravenous manipulation. The arteries of the same name lie deeper, under the muscular fascia, so the risk of their damage is minimal. The most frequent venous access is through the intermediate ulnar vein, but the basilic and the cephalic veins are also used.

Obtaining access to the basilic vein is difficult. The neurovascular bundle is located under the fascia of the biceps brachii muscle, the so-called Pirogov aponeurosis. Therefore, often the area of the bend of the elbow is called the Pirogov fossa.

Dictionary

The basilic veinand its tributaries

Basilic vein

v. basilica

Cephalic vein

v. cephalica

Venous plexus of the hand

rete venosum manus

Dorsal metacarpal veins

venae dorsales metacarpals

Intermediate ulnar vein

v. inter media cubiti

Vein to the inferior ulnar collateral artery

v. comitans arteriaecol lateralis ulnaris inferioris

Dorsal venous network of the hand

rete venosum dorsalemanum

Intercapitular veins

vv. intercapitulares

Dorsal digital veins

vv. digitales dorsalis

Intermediate basilic andcephalic veins

v. inter media basilicaet v. intermedia cephalica

Intermediate antebrachial veins

v. inter mediaantebrachii

Anastomotic vessel

vas anastomoticum

Median veins

venae mediale

Ulnar veins

vv. ulnares

Radial veins

vv. radials

Deep venous palmararch

arcus venosus palmaris profundus

Palmar metacarpal veins

vv. metacarpales palmares

Vein of the thumb

vena princeps pollicis

Palmar digital veins

vv. digitales palmares

Anterior interosseous veins

vv. interosseae anteriores

Anterior cubital region

regio cubiti anterior