THE VEINS OF THE NECK 715 



It receives the stylomastoid vein and some tributaries from the back part of the 

 external ear. 



The occipital vein (v. occipitalis) comrrences in a plexus at the back part of 

 the vertex of the skull. From the plexus the vein follows the course of the occipital 

 artery, passing deeply beneath the muscles of the back part of the neck, and ter- 

 minating in the suboccipital triangle by becoming continuous with the posterior 

 vertebral vein (v. cervicalis profunda). Sometimes it is more superficial, and in 

 this case is a tributary of the external jugular vein. As it passes across the mastoid 

 portion of the temporal bone, it receives the mastoid vein, which thus establishes 

 a communication with the lateral sinus. 



The Veins of the Neck (Fig. 495). 

 The veins of the neck, which return the blood from the head and face, are: 



External jugular. Anterior jugular. 



Posterior external jugular. Internal jugular. 



Vertebral. 



The external jugular vein (v. jugular is externa*) receives the greater part of 

 the blood from the exterior of the cranium and deep parts of the face, and is 

 formed by the junction of the posterior division of the temporomaxillary and 

 the posterior auricular veins. It commences in the substance or the parotid gland. 

 DM a level with the angle of the mandible, and runs perpendicularly down the neck 

 in the direction of a line drawn from the angle of the mandible to the middle of the 

 clavicle. In its course it crosses the Sternomastoid muscle, and runs parallel 

 with its posterior border as far as its attachment to the clavicle, where it perforates 

 the deep fascia, and terminates in the subclavian vein, on the outer side of, or in 

 front of, the Scalenus anticus muscle. It is separated from the Sternomastoid 

 by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by the Platysma, 

 the superficial fascia, and the integument. This vein crosses about its middle 

 the superficial cervical nerve, and throughout the upper half of its course is 

 accompanied by the great auricular nerve. The external jugular vein varies 

 in size, bearing an inverse proportion to that of the other veins of the neck; it is 

 occasionally double. It is provided with two pairs of valves, the low r er pair being 

 placed at its entrance into the subclavian vein, the upper pair in most cases about 

 an inch and a half above the clavicle. The portion of vein between the two' sets 

 of valves is often dilated, and is termed the sinus. These valves do not prevent 

 the regurgitation of the blood or the passage of injection masses from below 

 upward. 



Tributaries. This vein receives the occipital occasionally, the posterior external 

 jugular, and, near its termination, the suprascapular, transverse cervical, and 

 anterior jugular veins; in the substance of the parotid gland a large branch of 

 communication from the internal jugular joins it. 



The posterior external jugular vein (v. jugular is posterior) commences in 

 the occipital region, and returns the blood from the integument and superficial 

 muscles in the upper and back part of the neck, lying between the Splenius and 

 Trapezius muscles. It runs down the back part of the neck, and opens into the 

 externa ] jugular just below the middle of its course. 



The anterior jugular vein (v. jngularis anterior] commences near the hvoid 

 bone from the convergence of the inferior labial coronary, the submental and the 

 mental veins, and communicating branches. It passes down between the median 

 line and the anterior border of the Sternomastoid, and at the lower part of the 



