Internal Jugular Vein

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  • receives blood from
    • brain
    • face
    • neck
  • superior bulb at upper end
  • inferior bulb at lower end
    • directly above this is bicuspid valve

Course

  • begins at jugular foramen (continuation of sigmoid sinus)
  • descends through neck in carotid sheath
  • unites with subclavian vein behind medial end of clavicle
  • forms brachiocephalic vein

Relations

  • Anterolaterally
    • skin
    • superficial fascia
    • platysma
    • transverse cutaneous nerve
    • investing layer of deep cervical fascia
    • sternocleidomastoid
    • parotid gland
    • lower part (between vein and sternocleidomastoid) covered by
      • sternothyroid
      • sternohyoid
      • omohyoid
    • crossed by
      • ansa cervicalis
      • stylohyoid
      • posterior belly of digastric
      • posterior auricular artery
      • occipital artery
      • spinal part of accessory nerve
    • styloid process and stylopharyngeus separate vein from parotid gland
    • deep cervical nodes run along gland
  • Posteriorly
    • transverse process of cervical vertebrae
    • levator scapulae
    • scalenus medius
    • scalenus anterior
    • cervical plexus
    • phrenic nerve
    • thyrocervical trunk
    • vertebral vein
    • first part of subclavian artery
    • thoracic duct (on left side)
  • Medially
    • above
      • internal carotid artery
      • IXth
      • Xth
      • XIth
      • XIIth cranial nerves
    • below
      • common carotid artery
      • vagus nerve

Tributaries

  • inferior petrosal sinus
  • facial vein
  • pharyngeal
  • lingual veins
  • superior thyroid vein
  • middle thyroid vein
  • occipital vein (occasionally)
 

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