ULNAR VEINS 161 



3. Tributaries corresponding to the branches of the axillary 

 artery. 



The Superficial veins commence in the superficial fascia of 

 the palm and dorsum of the hand, and of the fingers. 



The superficial veins of the palm and palmar surface of the 

 fingers are relatively small, and after forming a small irregular 

 plexus end in the median and anterior ulnar veins of the 

 forearm. 



On the dorsal aspect of the fingers are the dorso-lateral 

 veins, which ascend along the dorso-lateral borders of each digit. 

 They receive tributaries from all the tissues of the fingers, and 

 terminate in a dorsal venous plexus, or arch, which lies at the 

 level of the bases of the four inner metacarpal bones. The arch 

 finally terminates in the radial and posterior ulnar veins of 

 the forearm. 



There are four superficial veins in the forearm : 



1. The Median vein which commences on the dorsal aspect 

 of the base of the thumb. It turns round the radial border of 

 the wrist, and, passing up the middle of the forearm, terminates 

 by dividing into the median cephalic and median basilic veins. 



Tributaries. (I) Deep Median vein, a short vessel which con- 

 nects the deep and superficial veins at the elbow-joint. 

 (2) Tributaries from the adjacent tissues. 



2. The Radial vein commences in the dorsal venous plexus of 

 the hand and runs up the outer border of the forearm, receiving 

 tributaries from the adjacent tissues. It ends at the outer side 

 of the elbow by joining the median cephalic vein to form the 

 cephalic vein. 



8. The Anterior Ulnar vein commences at the base of the 

 little finger, and, passing up the ulnar side of the anterior surface 

 of the forearm, ends in -the basilic vein. 



4. The Posterior Ulnar vein (usually considerably larger than 

 the anterior) commences in the dorsal venous plexus, and 

 ascends along the dorsal side of the ulnar aspect of the fore- 

 arm. It terminates by joining the median basilic vein to form 

 the basilic vein. 



The median cephalic and median basilic veins are formed by 

 the division of the median vein ; they are both short vessels. 



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