Rusu MC, Tudose RC, Vrapciu AD, Toader C, Popescu ŞA. Anatomical Variations of the External Jugular Vein: A Pictorial and Critical Review.
Medicina (Kaunas) 2023;
59:medicina59030622. [PMID:
36984623 PMCID:
PMC10052824 DOI:
10.3390/medicina59030622]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: The external jugular vein (EJV) descends on the sternocleidomastoid muscle to drain deep into the subclavian vein. Anatomical variations of the EJV are relevant for identification of the greater auricular nerve, flap design and preparation, or EJV cannulation. (2) Methods: Different publications were comprehensively reviewed. Dissections and three-dimensional volume renderings of peculiar cases were used to sample the review. (3) Results: Different anatomical possibilities of the EJV were critically reviewed and documented: fenestrations and double fenestrations, true or false duplications, triplication, absence, aberrant origin or course, or bifurcation. Tributaries of the EJV, such as the facial and posterior external jugular veins, are discussed. The internal jugular vein termination of the EJV is also presented. (4) Conclusions: Care should be taken when different morphological features of the EJV are encountered or reported.
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