Internal Jugular Vein
The structure indicated is the
internal jugular vein.
The jugular veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the head to the heart via the superior vena cava. There are
two jugular veins:
- External jugular vein
- Internal jugular vein
The
external jugular vein drains into the subclavian vein. The
internal jugular vein joins the subclavian vein to form the
brachiocephalic vein. The brachiocephalic veins (innominate vein) on either side then join one another to form the
superior vena cava, to bring blood into the
right atrium of the heart. The external jugular vein runs superficial to the
sternocleidomastoid muscle, the internal jugular vein on the other hand runs deep to this muscle inside the
carotid sheath along with the
common carotid artery and the
vagus nerve.
Due to the direct pathway between the internal jugular vein and the right atrium of the heart (there is only a single pair of valves between the two), the internal jugular vein can be used as a “barometer” to measure the pressure in the venous system due to problems arising in the heart and lungs, resulting in problems with the right side of the heart. The
jugular venous pressure (JVP) is the pulsation seen in the internal jugular vein, allowing one to estimate the pressure in the right atrium. It may be raised in conditions such as right ventricular failure.
