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Cephalic vein

Vein: Cephalic vein

Superficial veins of the upper limb.

Cross-section through the middle of upper arm. (Cephalic vein labeled at upper left.)
Latin	vena cephalica
Gray's	subject #172 661
Source	dorsal venous network of hand
Drains to	axillary vein, median cubital vein
Artery	deltoid branch of thoracoacromial artery
Dorlands/Elsevier	v_05/12849786

In human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb.

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It communicates with the basilic vein via the median cubital vein at the elbow and is located in the superficial fascia along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle.

Superiorly the cephalic vein passes between the deltoid and pectoralis major muscles (deltopectoral groove) and through the deltopectoral triangle, where it empties into the axillary vein.

It is often visible through the skin, and its location in the deltopectoral groove is fairly consistent, making this site a good candidate for cannulation.

Additional images

v • d • e Veins of upper limbs
superficial	Dorsal digital • Dorsal metacarpal • Dorsal network • Palmar digital • Intercapitular • Cephalic • Median cubital • Accessory cephalic • Basilic • Median antebrachial
deep	Palmar metacarpal • Superficial palmar arch • Deep palmar arch • Radial • Ulnar • Brachial • Axillary