Anterior jugular vein

The anterior jugular vein is a vein in the neck.

Anterior jugular vein
The veins of the neck, viewed from in front
(anterior jugular visible at center)
Veins of the head and neck
(anterior jugular visible at bottom right)
Details
Drains toExternal jugular vein
Identifiers
LatinVena jugularis anterior[1]
TA98A12.3.05.047
TA24959
FMA13318
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The anterior jugular vein lies lateral to the cricothyroid ligament.[2] It begins near the hyoid bone by the confluence of several superficial veins from the submandibular region.[1] Its tributaries are some laryngeal veins, and occasionally a small thyroid vein.[1] It descends between the median line and the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and, at the lower part of the neck, passes beneath that muscle to open into the termination of the external jugular vein, or, in some instances, into the subclavian vein.[1] Just above the sternum the two anterior jugular veins communicate by a transverse trunk, the venous jugular arch, which receive tributaries from the inferior thyroid veins; each also communicates with the internal jugular.[1]

There are no valves in this vein.[1]

The pretracheal lymph nodes follow the anterior jugular vein on each side of the midline.[3]

Variation

The anterior jugular vein varies considerably in size, bearing usually an inverse proportion to the external jugular.[1] Most frequently, there are two anterior jugulars, a right and left.[1][4] However, there is sometimes only one.[1]

A duplicate anterior jugular vein may be present on one side, which may cross over the midline.

Clinical significance

Ultrasound

The anterior jugular vein, if present, is easily identified using ultrasound of the neck.[5]

Tracheotomy

The anterior jugular vein may be damaged during tracheotomy, causing significant bleeding.[6][7][8] The significant variation in vein course, such as duplicate veins, creates this risk.[4] Performing a midline incision helps to avoid the anterior jugular vein.[7][8]

Additional images

References
  1. Public domain One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text in the public domain from page 647 of  the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)
  2. Cattano, Davide; Cavallone, Laura F. (2013-01-01), Hagberg, Carin A. (ed.), "Chapter 30 - Percutaneous Dilational Cricothyrotomy and Tracheostomy", Benumof and Hagberg's Airway Management (Third Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 613–639.e3, doi:10.1016/b978-1-4377-2764-7.00030-0, ISBN 978-1-4377-2764-7, retrieved 2021-01-12
  3. Rhys, Rhian (2011-01-01), Allan, Paul L.; Baxter, Grant M.; Weston, Michael J. (eds.), "CHAPTER 46 - Cervical lymph nodes", Clinical Ultrasound (Third Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 920–937, ISBN 978-0-7020-3131-1, retrieved 2021-01-12
  4. El-Sayed, Ivan H.; Bhatki, Amol M.; Khabie, Nissim (2009-01-01), Eisele, David W.; Smith, Richard V. (eds.), "CHAPTER 34 - Complications of Tracheostomy and Tracheal Surgery", Complications in Head and Neck Surgery (Second Edition), Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 405–424, ISBN 978-1-4160-4220-4, retrieved 2021-01-12
  5. Rhys, Rhian (2011-01-01), Allan, Paul L.; Baxter, Grant M.; Weston, Michael J. (eds.), "CHAPTER 45 - Ultrasound of the neck", Clinical Ultrasound (Third Edition), Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 890–919, ISBN 978-0-7020-3131-1, retrieved 2021-01-12
  6. Osborn, Timothy Marx; Dierks, Eric J. (2012-01-01), Bagheri, Shahrokh C.; Bell, R. Bryan; Khan, Husain Ali (eds.), "Chapter 34 - The Surgical Airway", Current Therapy In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Saint Louis: W.B. Saunders, pp. 275–281, ISBN 978-1-4160-2527-6, retrieved 2021-01-12
  7. Gross, Ronald I.; Jacobs, Lenworth M. (2008-01-01), Asensio, JUAN A.; Trunkey, DONALD D. (eds.), "CHAPTER 17 - AIRWAY MANAGEMENT: WHAT EVERY TRAUMA SURGEON SHOULD KNOW, FROM INTUBATION TO CRICOTHYROIDOTOMY", Current Therapy of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, Philadelphia: Mosby, pp. 95–105, ISBN 978-0-323-04418-9, retrieved 2021-01-12
  8. Minokadeh, Anushirvan; Wilson, William C. (2010-01-01), Jeremias, Allen; Brown, David L. (eds.), "CHAPTER 49 - Emergency Airway Management", Cardiac Intensive Care (Second Edition), Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, pp. 598–631, ISBN 978-1-4160-3773-6, retrieved 2021-01-12
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