Veins of the arm and the shoulder - Anterior view (English)

Deoxygenated blood from the hand, forearm and arm is drained via the superficial and deep veins of the arm. The main superficial veins of the upper limb are the cephalic and basilic veins which are continuations of the same veins in the forearm. Deep veins of the upper limb, such as the brachial, axillary and subclavian veins, and their tributaries accompany their arterial counterparts (i.e. venae comitantes). At the inferior border of the teres major muscle, the basilic vein unites with the brachial vein(s) to form the axillary vein. At the lateral border of the first rib, it continues as the subclavian vein transporting deoxygenated blood to the brachiocephalic vein. Venous blood is returned to the heart via the superior vena cava.