CUTANEOUS VEINS OF THE ARM. 



487 



The basilic vein, usually of considerable size, ascending along the 

 inner border of the biceps muscle, in front of the brachial artery, passes 

 through the fascia below the middle of the arm, and finally unites with 

 one of the vente comitcs of that vessel, or with the axillary vein, which 

 it chiefly forms. 



Fig. 311. — View of the Superficial Veins at 

 THE bend of the Arm (from E. Quain). ^ 



The full description of tliis figure will be found 

 at p. 400. The following numbers indicate tha 

 veins: — At 1 and 2, the fascia is opened in front 

 of the brachial artery and its accompanying 

 veins ; the inner vena comes, marked 1, has 

 been divided, the outer marked 2, is entire; 

 + , the median nerve; 3, the basilic vein ; 3', the 

 i\hiar veins ; 4, the cephalic vein ; 4', one of the 

 radial veins; 5, the median vein : 5 to 4', median 

 cephalic ; 5 to 3', median basilic. 



The median cutaneoiis vein results 

 from the union, on the anterior part of 

 the forearm, of several branches. It is a 

 short trunk of A'ariable length, which 

 ascends between the ulnar and radial 

 cutaneous veins on the front of the 

 forearm, and terminates beneath the 

 hollow in front of the elbow by dividing 

 into the median basilic and median 

 cephalic branches, which diverge up- 

 wards from each other. Close to its 

 bifurcation it receives a short branch, 

 the deep viedian vein, v/hich pierces the 

 fascia to meet it, and forms a communi- 

 cation between it and the deep veins 

 accompanying the arteries. 



The niGdian basilic vein, inclining inwards to join the basilic vein, 

 passes in front of the brachial artery, from which it is separated by 

 the fibrous expansion given by the tendon of the biceps muscle to the 

 fascia covering the flexor muscles ; it is crossed by branches of the 

 internal cutaneous nerve. 



The median cephalic vein, directed outwards, unites witli the 

 cephalic vein. Branches of the external cutaneous nerve descend be- 

 hind it. 



Varieties. — The cephalic vein frequently teiininates in the external jugular 

 instead of the axiUary vein ; usually running up over the clavicle, but sometimes 

 below that bone. In one case it passed below the clavicle but sent a branch 

 over, which also opened into the external jugular, and thus fonned a venous 

 ring round the clavicle (XT.ihn). In other cases the cephalic is merely united to 

 the external jugular by a communicating branch (jtiffulo-cejjhaUc) which rui s 

 up over the clavicle. In two cases which occuiTcd in the dissecting-room ot 

 Glasgow University, winter, 1872-7.'5, this jugulo-cephalic branch instead of pass- 

 ing over the clavicle passed right through the bone, accompanied in one of the 

 cases by a small artery. 



DEEP VEINS OF THE UPPER LIMB. 



The brachial artery and its various branches in tlie arm, forearm, 



