Anatomical Variations In Termination Of Common Facial Vein
24-27
Correspondence
Dr. Bertha A,
Department of Anatomy,
Christian Medical College,
Vellore 632 002, India
Phone number: (Res): 0416- 2284026; (Off): 2284245
Telefax No. 0091-0416-2262268
Email: bertha@cmcvellore.ac.in; bertharathinam@gmail.com
Introduction: Variations in the venous drainage pattern of the face and neck are quite common. The objective of this study was to observe the variations in the formation and the drainage of the common facial vein.
Methods: The variations of the superficial veins of the neck were noted in thirty five specimens (17 belonging to the left side and 18 to the right) of the South Indian population which were used for routine dissection, for teaching the medical graduates in Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Results: This is a a report on the unusual drainage of the common facial veins into the subclavian and the absent external jugular veins bilaterally. Another interesting variant is the undivided retromandibular vein continuing as the external jugular vein and the anterior facial vein opening into the internal jugular vein. In three cases, the common facial veins were found to open into the external jugular vein at varying distances from the base of the mandible. The embryological basis for the variations is discussed here.
Conclusion: The knowledge of the varying venous patterns in the neck is important for clinical practitioners who perform procedures like cannulation and venegraft harvesting in endarterectomy.