List of veins in the human body

The human body contains a vast network of veins that are crucial for returning deoxygenated blood back to the heart after oxygen and nutrients have been delivered to tissues by the arteries. This article provides a comprehensive list of the major veins in the human body, categorized by the regions they serve and their primary functions.

Head and Neck

• Internal jugular vein: Drains blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck.
• External jugular vein: Drains the outer parts of the face and the scalp.
• Vertebral vein: Drains the posterior part of the head and the neck, running alongside the vertebral artery.
• Facial vein: Drains the facial structures, anastomosing with the internal and external jugular veins.

Upper Limbs

• Brachial vein: Accompanies the brachial artery and drains blood from the lower arm and hand.
• Cephalic vein: Runs along the lateral side of the arm and drains into the axillary vein.
• Basilic vein: Located on the medial side of the arm, it drains into the brachial vein.
• Median cubital vein: An important site for venipuncture, it connects the cephalic and basilic veins.

Thorax

• Superior vena cava: A large diameter vein that receives blood from the upper body and empties into the right atrium of the heart.
• Inferior vena cava: Carries blood from the lower body to the right atrium of the heart.
• Azygos vein: Drains the thoracic wall and upper lumbar region into the superior vena cava.
• Hemiazygos vein: A companion to the azygos vein, draining the lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions.

Abdomen

• Hepatic veins: Drain deoxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava.
• Renal veins: Drain the kidneys into the inferior vena cava.
• Portal vein: Carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract and spleen to the liver, rich in nutrients.

Pelvis and Lower Limbs

• Femoral vein: The major vein of the thigh, draining into the external iliac vein.
• Great saphenous vein: The longest vein in the body, running along the length of the lower limb.
• Small saphenous vein: Drains the lateral surface of the leg.
• Popliteal vein: Forms from the confluence of the veins of the lower leg and drains into the femoral vein.

See also

• Circulatory system
• Heart
• Blood vessel

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