Veins of the Neck

Retromandibular vein

• Is formed by the superficial temporal and maxillary veins.
• Divides into an anterior branch, which joins the facial vein to form the common facial vein, and a posterior branch, which joins the posterior auricular vein to form the external jugular vein.

External jugular vein

• Is formed by the union of the posterior auricular vein and the posterior branch of the retromandibular vein.
• Crosses the sternomastoid obliquely under the platysma and ends in the subclavian (or sometimes the internal jugular) vein.
• Receives the suprascapular, transverse cervical, and anterior jugular veins.

Internal jugular vein

• Begins in the jugular foramen as a continuation of the sigmoid sinus, descends in the carotid sheath, and ends in the brachiocephalic vein.
• Has the superior bulb at its beginning and the inferior bulb just above its termination.
• Receives the facial, lingual, and superior and middle thyroid veins.