The dorsal venous network of the hand is a venous network on the dorsum (backside) of hand. It is formed by the

dorsal metacarpal veins The dorsal digital veins from the adjacent sides of the fingers unite to form three dorsal metacarpal veins, which end in a dorsal venous net-work opposite the middle of the metacarpus. They are a popular site for peripheral venous cannulation b ...

(three in number), a dorsal digital vein from the radial (lateral) side of the index finger and one from the ulnar (medial) side of the little finger, and both dorsal digital veins of the thumb. The venous network gives rise to the

cephalic vein In human anatomy, the cephalic vein (also called the antecubital vein) is a superficial vein in the arm. It is the longest vein of the upper limb. It starts at the anatomical snuffbox from the radial end of the dorsal venous network of hand, a ...

and the

basilic vein The basilic vein is a large superficial vein 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 ...

; an

accessory cephalic vein The accessory cephalic vein is a variable vein that passes along the radial border of the forearm to join the cephalic veinhttp://dictionary.reference.com/browse/accessory+cephalic+vein (10/15/10) distal/inferior to the elbow. It may arise from a ...

may arise from it as well.

References

Veins of the upper limb {{Circulatory-stub