Veins of the neck (English)

The main veins of the neck are the external, internal and anterior jugular veins. The external jugular vein is usually formed by the posterior auricular and retromandibular veins (not shown) and drains into the subclavian vein at the root of the neck. Tributaries of the external jugular vein include the anterior jugular vein, transverse cervical vein, suprascapular vein and posterior external jugular vein (not shown). The internal jugular vein descends through the neck, joining with the subclavian vein to form the left/right brachiocephalic veins. Unlike its arterial counterpart (the internal carotid artery), the internal jugular vein receives numerous tributaries within the neck, most notably the common facial vein which is received around the level of, or inferior to, the hyoid bone. The superior and middle thyroid veins drain regions of the thyroid gland and larynx, emptying into the internal jugular vein, while the inferior thyroid vein drains directly into the left brachiocephalic vein. The vertebral vein descends within the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae and also drains into the brachiocephalic vein.