The basilic vein is a large

superficial vein Superficial veins are veins that are close to the surface of the body, as opposed to deep veins, which are far from the surface. Superficial veins are not paired with an artery, unlike the deep veins, which are typically associated with an art ...

of the upper limb that helps drain parts of the hand and forearm. It originates on the medial ( ulnar) side of the dorsal venous network of the hand and travels up the base of the forearm, where its course is generally visible through the skin as it travels in the subcutaneous fat and fascia lying superficial to the muscles. The basilic vein terminates by uniting with the brachial veins to form the axillary vein.

Anatomy

Course

As it ascends the medial side of the

biceps The biceps or biceps brachii ( la, musculus biceps brachii, "two-headed muscle of the arm") is a large muscle that lies on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. Both heads of the muscle arise on the scapula and join t ...

in the arm proper (between the elbow and shoulder), the basilic vein normally perforates the

brachial fascia The brachial fascia (deep fascia of the arm) is continuous with that covering the deltoideus and the pectoralis major muscle, by means of which it is attached, above, to the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula; it forms a thin, loose, me ...

(

deep fascia Deep fascia (or investing fascia) is a fascia, a layer of dense connective tissue that can surround individual muscles and groups of muscles to separate into fascial compartments. This fibrous connective tissue interpenetrates and surrounds the ...

) superior to the medial epicondyle, or even as high as mid-arm.

Tributaries and anastomoses

Near the region anterior to the

cubital fossa The cubital fossa, chelidon, or elbow pit, is the triangular area on the anterior side of the upper limb between the arm and forearm of a human or other hominid animals. It lies anteriorly to the elbow (Latin ) when in standard anatomical position ...

(in the bend of the elbow joint), the basilic vein usually communicates with the cephalic vein (the other large superficial vein of the upper extremity) via the median cubital vein. The layout of superficial veins in the forearm is highly variable from person to person, and there is a profuse network of unnamed superficial veins that the basilic vein communicates with. Around the inferior border of the teres major muscle and just proximal to the basilic vein's termination, the anterior and posterior circumflex humeral veins drain into it.

Clinical significance

Venipuncture

Along with other superficial veins in the forearm, the basilic vein is an acceptable site for venipuncture. Nevertheless, IV nurses sometimes refer to the basilic vein as the "virgin vein", since with the arm typically supinated during phlebotomy the basilic vein below the elbow becomes awkward to access, and is therefore infrequently used.

Venous grafts

Vascular surgeons sometimes utilize the basilic vein to create an AV (arteriovenous) fistula or AV graft for hemodialysis access in patients with kidney failure.

Additional images

File:Gray413 color.png, Cross-section through the middle of upper arm File:Gray417 color.PNG, Cross-section through the middle of the forearm File:Basilic Vein of Forearm.jpg, Moderate-sized basilic vein of forearm (adult male): Estimated lumen diameter 6.5 mm. Anatomically typical branching pattern. File:Basilic Vein.jpg, Basilic vein, muscular right forearm. File:Basilic vein adolescent.jpg, alt=, Basilic vein, right forearm (adolescent).

External links

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Illustration

References

{{Authority control Anatomy Veins of the upper limb Human surface anatomy Cardiovascular system Circulatory system