External jugular vein

The External jugular vein is a vein in the human neck. It is also called external jugular vein designated. Their course is perpendicular along the neck.

What is the external jugular vein?

The external jugular vein is one of the human blood vessels. Venous blood is transported in it. It is assigned to the central nervous system. It is an external jugular vein that flows vertically down the neck. Doctors speak of a ventral course.

The external jugular vein carries blood down from the face and neck. It is located on both sides of the neck and is therefore created in pairs. The external jugular vein can be felt well on the neck of many people and can be seen without additional contrast media. Even if you exert slight pressure on the neck with your fingers, the blood in it can easily become stuck. The external jugular vein is prone to venous thrombosis.

Jugular vein thrombosis occurs in the so-called jugular veins on the human neck. Jugular veins are veins in which blood flow can be restricted. The external jugular vein is well filled when lying down or when the head is bent backwards. If, on the other hand, the body is sitting or standing, the vein is practically empty. The external jugular vein is therefore a blood vessel whose fill level is considered to be variable.

Anatomy & structure

The veins of the human neck are distinguished between the superficial and deep neck veins. Superficial veins include the external jugular vein and the anterior jugular vein.

The deep jugular veins are divided into the internal jugular vein, the subclavian vein, and the vertebral vein. The external jugular vein, internal jugular vein, and anterior vein are also referred to as jugular veins. The external jugular vein begins its course at the parotid gland. This is called the parotid gland. This is where the occipital vein is located, the blood of which flows into the external jugular vein. The blood from the auricularis posterior epifascial also flows into the vena jugularis externa.

During its vertical course it is also connected to the retromandibular vein and the facial vein. The external jugular vein opens into the internal jugular vein and the vein angle. This is formed by the internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein. Part of its pathway, the external jugular vein runs parallel to the auricularis magnus nerve.

Function & tasks

The task of the external jugular vein is to transport venous blood. This is transported away from the deeper parts of the face and the neck organs by the external jugular vein. Various messenger substances and nutrients are transported from their place of origin to their destination via the blood. The substances include oxygen, hormones, blood plasma or transmitters. They supply the surrounding organs and ensure that the nutrients get to their destinations. There they enter the organ's membrane and can develop their effect.

The blood vessels in the human organism represent a very fast transport path. The high number and the various branches in the body make it possible that absorbed nutrients often arrive at their place of action in just a few seconds or minutes. In addition, the jugular vein impulse is perceived at the external jugular vein. In people who have lost consciousness, the external jugular vein is checked by finger pressure to determine whether the heart is still supplying the organism with blood.

The external jugular vein is more easily accessible for this process than the heart because of its position. Accident victims do not have to remove any clothing to see how strong the heart pulse is. This is an important step in emergency care after a life-threatening situation. In addition, veins are used to supply people with important additional messenger substances during surgical interventions. Their vessel wall is thinner and therefore easier to penetrate than that of arteries.

Diseases

The external jugular vein is the origin of what is known as jugular thrombosis. This disease causes a blood clot to form in the vein. This leads to a congestion of blood inside the vessel. This can lead to impaired consciousness or a feeling of tension. If the clot enlarges, a vein occlusion occurs.

The result is that the wall of the vein gives way. It tears and venous blood comes out. The bleeding can have other consequences besides loss of consciousness. Various functional disorders of the surrounding organs occur. There is swelling of the throat, difficulty swallowing and the phonotonia is reduced. Headache, fever, or a lump in the neck are also possible symptoms. In severe cases, the jugular thrombosis is fatal.

This can happen when the clot breaks down and is transported to other organs such as the lungs. Not only nutrients and messenger substances are transported via the blood. If a tumor has formed in the organism, there is a possibility that cells will detach from it. They then reach every other part of the body via the bloodstream. Regardless of where they come from, they can make new cancer cells and metastasize anywhere else. Therefore, the external jugular vein may be responsible for the spread of cancer.