cephalic vein

(noun)

Arises from the dorsal venous network of the hand and passes the elbow anteriorly, continuing up the upper arm to the shoulder.

Related Terms

Examples of cephalic vein in the following topics:

  • Veins of the Upper Limbs

    • The major superficial veins of the upper limb are the cephalic, median cubital and basilic veins.
    • The cephalic vein arises from the dorsal venous network of the hand and passes the elbow anteriorly, continuing up the upper arm to the shoulder.
    • The basilic vein follows a similar path but is located medially to the cephalic vein.
    • At the elbow, the basilic and cephalic veins are linked by the median cubital vein, from which blood is often drawn.
    • At the shoulder, the basilic vein passes deep into the arm and merges with the brachial veins to form the axillary vein, to which the cephaliac vein merges, forming the subclavian vein.

  • Cephalic Phase

    • The cephalic phase of gastric secretion occurs even before food enters the stomach via neurological signals.
    • The cephalic phase of gastric secretion occurs even before food enters the stomach, especially while it is being eaten.
    • Neurogenic signals that initiate the cephalic phase of gastric secretion originate from the cerebral cortex, and in the appetite centers of the amygdala and hypothalamus.
    • When appetite is depressed this part of the cephalic reflex is inhibited.
    • Cephalic phase causes ECL cells to secrete histamine and increase HCl acid in the stomach.

  • Veins of the Head and Neck

    • The superficial external jugular vein is formed from the retromandibular vein and the posterior auricular vein at a point adjacent to the mandible.
    • The external jugular vein passes down the neck and underneath the clavicle before draining into the subclavian vein.
    • Upon exiting the neck, the internal jugular vein merges with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein.
    • Additional veins such as the occipital, deep cervical, and thyroid veins drain directly into the brachiocephalic vein.
    • The veins of head and neck are labeled in blue, with an arrow pointing to the auricular vein.

  • Veins of the Lower Limbs

    • The posterior and anterior tibial veins return blood from the calf, ankle, and foot and merge into the popliteal vein behind the knee.
    • The popliteal vein then carries blood from the knee joint up through the thigh.
    • The femoral vein merges with the great saphenous vein in the groin to form the external iliac vein.
    • Running the full length of the leg, making it the longest vein in the body, the great saphenous vein is a superficial vein that returns blood from the foot and superficial muscles of the leg before merging with the femoral vein to form the external iliac vein.
    • Outline the flow of blood in the veins of the lower limbs

  • Varicose Veins

    • To accommodate the retrograde or reflux flow, the veins enlarge even more.
    • Varicose veins are most often found in the superficial veins of the legs, which are subject to high pressure when standing.
    • Spider veins are less than one millimeter in diameter, whereas varicose veins are larger than this in diameter.
    • The traditional surgical treatment has been vein stripping, or removal of the affected veins.
    • The middle image shows where varicose veins might appear in a leg.

  • Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis

    • A number of veins remove deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and pelvis.
    • The external iliac vein, the upward continuation of the femoral vein, passes upward along the pelvis and ends to form the common iliac vein.The tributaries of the external iliac vein are the inferior epigastric, deep iliac circumflex, and pubic veins.
    • The superior epigastric vein refers to a blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood and drains into the internal thoracic vein.
    • The inferior epigastric vein refers to the vein that drains into the external iliac vein and arises from the superior epigastric vein.
    • The veins of the abdomen and lower limb include the inferior vena cava, the common iliac veins, the external iliac veins, and their tributaries.

  • Principal Veins

    • Deep veins are often of larger caliber than superficial veins and carry the majority of the blood within the circulatory system.
    • Communicating veins, or perforator veins if they pass through a large muscle mass, directly connect superficial and direct veins.
    • The above veins form part of the systemic circulatory system.
    • The venae cavae are the veins with the largest diameter.
    • There are four pulmonary veins, two from each lung, each of which forms from three to four bronchial veins.

  • Veins of the Thorax

    • Bilaterally, it arises from the superior epigastric vein, accompanies the internal thoracic artery along its course, and terminates in the brachiocephalic vein.
    • The supreme intercostal vein is a paired vein that drains the first intercostal space on its corresponding side.
    • It usually drains into the brachiocephalic vein.
    • The renal veins from the kidney and hepatic veins of the liver drain directly into the inferior vena cava.
    • Additionally, the superior and inferior phrenic veins drain the diaphragm and usually open into the internal mammary vein and inferior vena cava, respectively.

  • Veins

    • Although most veins take blood back to the heart, portal veins carry blood between capillary beds.
    • Deep veins - Deep veins are deeper in the body and have corresponding arteries.
    • Communicating veins - Communicating veins (or perforator veins) directly connect superficial veins to deep veins.
    • Pulmonary veins - The pulmonary veins deliver oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
    • Systemic veins - Systemic veins drain the tissues of the body and deliver deoxygenated blood to the heart.

  • Blood Supply to the Liver

    • In the hepatic portal system, the liver receives a dual blood supply from the hepatic portal vein and hepatic arteries.
    • In the hepatic portal system, the liver receives a dual blood supply from the hepatic portal vein and hepatic arteries.
    • Blood flows through the liver tissue and empties into the central vein of each lobule.
    • The central veins coalesce into hepatic veins, which collects blood leaving the liver and bring it to the heart.
    • When any of these stored substances are needed, the liver releases them back into circulation through the hepatic veins.