Major Systemic Veins
- Cranial venous sinuses – internal jugular vein – brain, including reabsorbed CSF (cerebrospinal fluid)
- Internal jugular – brachiocephalic – face and neck
- External jugular – subclavian – superficial face and neck
- Subclavian – brachiocephalic – shoulder
- Brachiocephalic – superior vena cava – upper body
- Superior vena cava – right atrium – upper body
Arm and Shoulder (vein – vein it joins – region drained)
- Radial – brachial – forearm and hand
- Ulnar – brachial – forearm and hand
- Cephalic – axillary – superficial arm and forearm
- Basilic – axillary – superficial upper arm
- Brachial – axillary – upper arm
- Axillary – subclavian – armpit
- Subclavian – brachiocephalic – shoulder
Trunk (vein – vein it joins – region drained)
- Brachiocephalic – superior vena cava – upper body
- Azygos – superior vena cava – deep structures of chest and abdomen and links inferior vena cava to superior vena cava
- Hepatic – inferior vena cava – liver
- Renal – inferior vena cava – kidney
- Testicular or ovarian – inferior vena cava and left renal vein – testes or ovaries
- Internal iliac – common iliac – rectum, bladder, reproductive organs
- External iliac – common iliac – leg and abdominal wall
- Common iliac – inferior vena cava – leg and lower abdomen
Leg (vein – vein it joins – region drained)
- Anterior and posterior tibial – popliteal – lower leg and foot
- Popliteal – femoral – knee
- Small saphenous – popliteal – superficial leg and foot
- Great saphenous – femoral – superficial foot, leg, and thigh
- Femoral – external iliac – thigh
- External iliac – common iliac – leg and abdominal wall
- Common iliac – inferior vena cava – leg and lower abdomen
- Inferior vena cava – right atrium – lower body
This page was updated in November 2005.
