Communicating vein between the right external and internal jugular veins: a case report

Abstract

The external jugular vein is a superficial vein that has a relatively diagonal to vertical course in the neck region and runs superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle. This vein is formed by the union of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein with the posterior auricular vein and it is responsible for draining most of the scalp and face as well. Sound knowledge of variations of the external jugular veins and the internal jugular veins, is important as these veins are used or targeted in specific medical procedures such as external jugular vein cannulation or radical neck dissection, respectively. During routine postgraduate dissection of the neck region in a 58-year-old female cadaver, the right external jugular vein was seen communicating with the right internal jugular vein via a communicating vein. The communicating vein was located approximately at the lower border of the thyroid cartilage and the upper border of the cricoid cartilage. A thorough understanding of anatomical variations is important in various medical disciplines and more specifically to anatomists, radiologists, and surgeons. This case report does not solely aim to increase awareness regarding variations of the jugular veins that can be possibly encountered during a neck endovascular procedure, but also contribute to the identification of the prevalence rate of this variation.