20th February 2024

Upper limb

The venous drainage of the upper limbs can be divided into the superficial and deep systems. The basilic and cephalic veins will drain blood from the dorsal aspect of the hand and pass within the arm’s medial and anterolateral aspects. They are connected within the elbow by the median cubital vein. Both veins drain into the axillary vein.

The deep venous system is situated beside their accompanying arteries and is formed by the forearm’s radial and ulnar veins. These drain into the brachial vein and eventually into the axillary vein. Both axillary veins will drain into the subclavian and, eventually, the brachiocephalic vein.