Intercapitular veins of the hand

Diagram of the veins of the hand, including the intercapitular veins.

The intercapitular veins of the hand are small veins that play a crucial role in the venous drainage of the hand. These veins are part of the superficial venous system and are located in the dorsum of the hand. They connect the dorsal digital veins with the dorsal venous network of the hand.

Anatomy

The intercapitular veins are situated between the metacarpal bones and are responsible for draining blood from the fingers into the larger venous structures of the hand. They are typically found in the spaces between the heads of the metacarpal bones, hence the name "intercapitular," which means "between the heads."

Function

The primary function of the intercapitular veins is to facilitate the return of deoxygenated blood from the fingers back to the heart. They achieve this by connecting the smaller dorsal digital veins with the larger dorsal venous network of the hand, which eventually drains into the cephalic vein and the basilic vein.

Clinical significance

The intercapitular veins, while small, can be significant in certain medical conditions. For instance, they may become engorged or varicose in conditions that affect venous return, such as chronic venous insufficiency. Additionally, they may be involved in the formation of venous thrombosis in the hand, although this is relatively rare.

Related pages

• Dorsal venous network of the hand
• Cephalic vein
• Basilic vein
• Dorsal digital veins