In human anatomy

Human anatomy

Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...

, the cephalic vein (or antecubital vein) is a superficial vein

Superficial vein

Superficial vein is a term used to describe a vein that is close to the surface of the body. It is used to differentiate veins that are close to the surface from veins that are far from the surface, known as deep veins....

 of the upper limb

Upper limb

The upper limb or upper extremity is the region in an animal extending from the deltoid region to the hand, including the arm, axilla and shoulder.-Definition:...

.

It communicates with the basilic vein

Basilic vein

In human anatomy, the basilic vein is a large superficial vein of the upper limb that helps drain parts of hand and forearm. It originates on the medial side of the dorsal venous network of the hand, and it travels up the base of the forearm and arm...

 via the median cubital vein

Median cubital vein

In human anatomy, the median cubital vein is a superficial vein of the upper limb. It connects the basilic and cephalic vein and is often used for venipuncture . It lies in the cubital fossa superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis.There exists a fair amount of variation of the median cubital vein...

 at the elbow and is located in the superficial fascia

Fascia

A fascia is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. A fascia is a connective tissue that surrounds muscles, groups of muscles, blood vessels, and nerves, binding those structures together in much the same manner as plastic wrap can be used to hold the contents of sandwiches...

 along the anterolateral surface of the biceps brachii muscle

Biceps brachii muscle

In human anatomy, the biceps brachii, or simply biceps in common parlance, is, as the name implies, a two-headed muscle located on the upper arm. Both heads arise on the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly which is attached to the upper forearm...

.

Superiorly the cephalic vein passes between the deltoid

Deltoid muscle

In human anatomy, the deltoid muscle is the muscle forming the rounded contour of the shoulder. Anatomically, it appears to be made up of three distinct sets of fibers though electromyography suggests that it consists of at least seven groups that can be independently coordinated by the central...

 and pectoralis major

Pectoralis major muscle

The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...

 muscle

Muscle

Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...

s (deltopectoral groove

Deltopectoral groove

The deltopectoral groove is an indentation in the muscular structure between the deltoid muscle and pectoralis major.It is the location through which the cephalic vein passes and where the coracoid process is most easily palpable.-External links:...

) and through the deltopectoral triangle, where it empties into the axillary vein

Axillary vein

In human anatomy, the axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla and upper limb toward the heart...

.

It is often visible through the skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

, and its location in the deltopectoral groove is fairly consistent, making this site a good candidate for cannulation. It is often referred to as the 'House-man's Friend' for this reason and is generally a good place for cannulaton when a large bore cannula needs to be sited.

Etymology

Ordinarily the term cephalic refers to anatomy of the head. When Persian physician Ibn Sīnā's Canon

The Canon of Medicine

The Canon of Medicine is an encyclopedia of Galenic medicine in five books compiled by Ibn Sīnā and completed in 1025. It presents a clear and organized summary of all the medical knowledge of the time...

 was translated into medieval Latin

Medieval Latin

Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. Despite the clerical origin of many of its authors,...

, cephalic was mistakenly chosen to render the Arabic term al-kífal, meaning "outer".