Cephalic vein (Vena cephalica)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
The most prominent superficial arm vein: arising from the radial dorsal network, ascending beside brachioradialis then in the deltopectoral groove to pierce the clavipectoral fascia into the axillary vein — history’s classic phlebotomy route.
Clinical notes
The first-choice cannulation vein for nurses and phlebotomists; repeated long-term cannulation stenoses it gradually, sacrificing the arm’s durable venous access.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Cephalic vein?
The most prominent superficial arm vein: arising from the radial dorsal network, ascending beside brachioradialis then in the deltopectoral groove to pierce the clavipectoral fascia into the axillary vein — history’s classic phlebotomy route.
Why is the Cephalic vein clinically important?
The first-choice cannulation vein for nurses and phlebotomists; repeated long-term cannulation stenoses it gradually, sacrificing the arm’s durable venous access.
Source & license
BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science licensed under CC Attribution 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). license details