THE VEINS OF THE UPPER LIMB. 



527 



SUPERFICIAL VEINS OF THE UPPER LIMB. 



The two principal cutaneous veins of the forearm, the radial and the posterior 

 ulnar, commence on the dorsum of the hand by a plexus into which the branches 

 from both surfaces of the fingers empty themselves. Two smaller veins, the median 



Fig. 403. THE SUPERFICIAL vtiys OF THE UPPER LIMB, 

 FROM BEFORE (the arrangement of the veins of the 

 hand after Braune. ) (Gr. D. T.) 



1, cephalic vein ; 2, basilic ; 3, radial ; 4, median- 

 cephalic ; 5, median, receiving a large branch from the outer 

 side of the wrist, and being joined near its division by 

 the deep median vein ; 6, median-basilic ; 7, anterior ulnar ; 

 8, posterior ulnar vein. 



and the anterior ulnar, ascend on the front of 

 the forearm ; and at the bend of the elbow all 

 these vessels become connected so as to give rise 

 to two trunks, the basilic and cephalic veins, 

 which are continued up the arm. 



The radial vein takes origin from the outer 

 part of the plexus on the back of the hand, and 

 is also joined at the upper end of the first inter- 

 osseous space by a communicating branch of 

 considerable size from the vense comites of the 

 deep palmar arch. It ascends along the outer 

 border of the forearm, receiving numerous 

 branches in its course, and at the bend of the 

 elbow, in the hollow on the outer side of the 

 biceps muscle, it unites with the median-cephalic 

 division of the median vein to form the cephalic 

 vein. 



The posterior ulnar vein commences in 

 the inner part of the dorsal plexus of the hand, 

 and also receives a communicating branch issuing 

 behind the abductor minimi digiti muscle from 

 the deep veins of the palm. It proceeds along 

 the posterior aspect of the ulnar border of the 

 limb, lying on the surface of the flexor carpi 

 ulnaris muscle, and just below (occasionally 

 above) the internal condyle of the humerus 

 turns forwards to join the median-basilic divi- 

 sion of the median vein, thus giving rise to the 

 basilic vein. 



The anterior ulnar vein, much smaller 

 than the posterior, ascends along the inner part 

 of the front of the forearm, and at the bend of 

 the elbow either joins the posterior ulnar or 

 opens separately into the median-basilic vein. 



The median vein is generally of small size, 

 and results from the union of two or three 

 vessels which pass upwards from a fine plexus 

 in the palm of the hand, receiving other branches 

 in the forearm and communicating freely on 



