594 



V. cephalica 

 V. basilica 

 V. obliqua 



radial of the two Vv. digitales dorsales propriae of the index fiinger, 

 as well as both the similar veins of the pollex. 



The ulnar extremity of the arcus venosus dorsalis is some- 

 what less definite than the radial extremity, but is, nevertheless, to be 

 regarded as forming the commencement of the V. basilica, inasmuch 

 as we found this to be the case in 100 7o of the individuals examined 

 by us, whilst further, the ulnar end of the arcus venosus dorsalis, was 

 the main venous outlet in some 53 %• It is thus perfectly evident 

 that the V. basilica is to be regarded as a direct continuation of the 

 ulnar end of the arcus venosus dorsalis. In 47 7o we also found a 



large well marked vein (see Fig. 2) 

 issuing from the ulnar end of the 

 arcus venosus dorsalis, and passing 

 obliquely proximally and radially 

 across the dorsal surface of the wrist 

 to terminate in the V. cephalica, whilst 

 lastly the V. cephalica accessoria was 

 also found to arise in the ulnar end 

 of the arcus venosus dorsalis in 

 about 28 7o. 



The pre-Basle description of the 

 radial end of the arch terminating 

 in the "superficial radial vein" we 

 regard as inaccurate, inasmuch as we 

 only found such a termination in 

 18 7o, ill all the remainder it was in 

 the "median vein", that is, the V, 

 cephalica of the B.N.A. 



Passing next to the volar sur- 

 face of the palm we found a venous 

 rete best marked on the thenar, hypothenar, and volar aspect of the 

 wrist with its outlet, in 99 % the V. mediana antebrachii. Spalteholz 

 speaks of the plexus passing proximally into the plexus of the forearm, 

 but we only found such an arrangement in 1 7o of our 300 cases. 



The V. cephalica. The V, cephalica is to be defined as that 

 vein, which commencing in the radial extremity of the arcus venosus 

 dorsalis, winds round the radial border of the forearm, and passes 

 proximally along the arm to the shoulder region. Of this vein two 

 distinct types occur, one, the normal type, found by us in 84<^Jo ^^^ 

 comprising the median, median cephalic and cephalic veins of the older 

 terminology, and the other, less constant but perfectly recognisable, 



Arcus venosus 

 dorsalis 



Fig. 2. The Vena obliqua. 



