Anterior jugular vein

The anterior jugular vein is a paired tributary of the external jugular vein.

Gross anatomy

Location

It arises beneath the chin in the region of the hyoid bone or suprahyoid neck.

Origin and course

The anterior jugular vein has its origin as the confluence of several small superficial submandibular veins. It descends near the midline, medial to the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and in its inferior path, superior to the sternum, is connected to the contralateral anterior jugular vein by the jugular (venous) arch.

Termination

It terminates by passing deep to sternocleidomastoid muscle to drain into the external jugular vein.

Tributaries

The vein often receives tributaries from:

• laryngeal veins
• small thyroid veins

Relations

It lies superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and superficial to the infrahyoid (strap) muscles.

Variant anatomy

• it may drain into the subclavian vein directly