Common facial vein
Vena facialis communis
A short vein in the upper neck, formed by the facial vein and the retromandibular vein, that empties into the internal jugular vein.
At a glance
- English
- Common facial vein
- Latin (TA2)
- Vena facialis communis
- System
- Vein
- Region
- Whole body
- Side
- Paired, left and right
About the common facial vein
It is a short trunk lying in the carotid triangle of the neck, just below the angle of the mandible. It carries blood from much of the face and the region in front of the ear into the internal jugular vein. It is not found in everyone: in some people the facial vein and the branches of the retromandibular vein reach the jugular system separately.
It is usually formed near the angle of the jaw when the facial vein, having come down across the face and over the submandibular gland, meets the anterior division of the retromandibular vein, which leaves the lower pole of the parotid gland. The resulting vessel runs downwards and backwards, superficial to the external carotid artery and to the loops of the hypoglossal nerve, then opens into the front of the internal jugular vein. Where it ends is variable, but it is commonly at or a little below the level of the hyoid bone.
Close to its end it often sends a communicating branch downwards along the front edge of sternocleidomastoid, which ends low in the neck in the anterior jugular vein. Small veins from the thyroid, tongue and pharynx may also join it near its end.
Surgeons meet the vein constantly in the neck. It crosses the carotid arteries close to the carotid bifurcation and is routinely tied and divided to expose the bifurcation during carotid endarterectomy or neck dissection, and it serves as a landmark for finding the hypoglossal nerve. Because the facial vein connects above with the ophthalmic veins and pterygoid plexus, it forms part of the pathway between the face and the cavernous sinus.
Course and drainage
- Begins at
- Formed below the angle of the mandible by the facial vein and the anterior division of the retromandibular vein.
- Drains into
- Opens into the internal jugular vein, usually near the level of the hyoid bone.
- Drains
- Drains the face, the region of the parotid gland and the submandibular area into the internal jugular vein.
Anthromica
See the common facial vein where it really sits, with every layer of the body around it.
- Every layer, one body. Peel from muscle to bone, nerve, vessel and organ, and turn it any way.
- English and Latin. Every structure named the way your exam names it.
- Quiz until it sticks. Short drills on the structures you keep missing.
Free to start. No card.
