Jugular vein: anatomy and physiology

The jugular vein (RV) drains blood from the organs and tissues of the head into the hollow cranial vein. It can be internal and external.

1. The first of these is at a sufficiently close distance from the surface of the body, so it can be seen with the appropriate muscle tension. It is located in the jugular trough, and draws blood from the back of the neck, the skin of the neck and chin, and then flows into the inner JAV. It has valves and other veins flow into it, such as:

A) the anterior jugular vein - originates in the chin region, is directed downwards, to the surface of the sternum-hyoid muscle. There are two of them, from both sides they descend into the supragranular space, where they are connected by means of anastomosis (jugular arch). Thus, the anterior jugular veins, merging, form a vein of the neck.

B) posterior ear vein - conducts blood coming from the plexus, which is located behind the auricle. It is located behind the ear.

C) occipital - conducts blood from the venous plexus in the occipital part of the head, it pours into the outer JAV, and sometimes into the inner JV.

D) suprascapular - passes along with the artery and has the appearance of two trunks connecting into one in the terminal section of the subclavian vein.

The jugular vein (external) contains valves.

2. A special role is played by the internal jugular vein. It originates in the place of the jugular aperture, which is located at the base of the skull, slantwise along the entire neck down under the sternocleid muscle, ending in its lateral sections at the base of the neck.

In the case of turning the head in the opposite direction, it goes to the junction of the auricle and the sternoclavicular junction, located in the carotid sac of the carotid artery and the lateral nerve.

It should also be noted that in the brain, namely in its hard shell, there are systems of venous vessels that flow into the veins and divert blood from the body. All of them join together and form venous sinuses of the solid membrane of the brain. So, the blood concentrates in two sigmoid sinuses, passing through certain holes in the skull. In this way, the right and left internal jugular veins are formed.

Somewhat further, they include inflows that divert blood from the pharynx and larynx, salivary glands, oral and nasal cavity, and neck and scalp and thyroid gland. Other veins enter the inner JV, such as:

A) facial - originates from the lower jaw, at the point of fusion of two veins (anterior facial and posterior), directed downward, then backward. It does not have valves.

B) thyroid veins - accompany the arteries and fall into the facial vein or lingual. They have valves.

C) pharyngeal - originate from the surface of the pharynx, they infuse the veins of the vidic canal, the palate, and the eustachian tube. The number of them may be different, they do not have valves.

D) the lingual vein - is near the artery, leaving it, it lies on the surface of the lingual muscle and goes parallel to the hyoid nerve. It has valves.

It should be noted that all veins of the head have anastomoses with venous sinuses through the bones of the skull. So, they are located on the inner corner of the eyes, behind the auricle, in the area of the crown. These anastomoses make it possible to regulate the pressure in the skull. Also, in the case of inflammation in the tissues, they serve as a pathway for inflammation to the membranes of the brain, which is quite a dangerous phenomenon.

Thus, the internal jugular vein, connecting with the subclavian, forms the trunk of the hollow superior vein.

The jugular vein, located on the neck, produces an outflow of blood from the tissues and organs of the head, and is part of the hollow superior vein. It represents two pairs (external and internal), which perform important functions in regulating blood flow, being an integral part of the circulatory system of man.