Veins of the Thoracic Limb

The brachial vein (V. brachialis) is a satellite of the extrathoracic part of the brachial artery. It arises at the inner side of the distal end of the shaft of the humerus and passes upward in the arm behind the artery under cover of a layer of fascia and the posterior superficial pectoral muscle. At the shoulder it is ventral to the artery, crosses the anterior border of the first rib, and concurs with its fellow and the two jugulars in the formation of the anterior vena cava. The roots of the vein are somewhat variable, but most often four radial veins in addition to a large oblique branch from the cephalic unite in its formation. Its tributaries correspond in general to the branches of the artery, but a few differences are worthy of notice. The thoracico-dorsal vein joins the brachial directly or opens into the deep brachial. The external thoracic or “spur” vein (V. thoracica externa) is a large vessel which arises in the ventral wall of the abdomen, passes forward (embedded more or less in the panniculus) along the outer border of the posterior deep pectoral muscle, and joins the brachial vein near the first rib. It often communicates with the subscapular vein.

The cephalic vein (V. cephalica) arises at the inner side of the carpus as the continuation of the internal superficial metacarpal vein. It runs upward on the deep fascia of the forearm at first in the furrow between the flexor carpi internus and the radius. Toward the middle of the forearm it inclines gradually forward on the inner surface of the radius, accompanied by a cutaneous branch of the median nerve, and arrives at the insertion of the biceps. Here it detaches a large branch (Ramus communicans) which passes upward and backward over the inner insertion of the biceps, the posterior radial artery, and the median nerve, and joins the brachial vein. The vein to this point is often termed the internal subcutaneous vein of the forearm (V. cephalica antebrachii). It is continued (as the V. cephalica humeri) in the furrow between the mastoido-humeralis and the anterior superficial pectoral with a branch of the inferior cervical artery, crosses the deep face of the cervical panniculus, and opens into the terminal part of the jugular or the brachial vein. It receives an accessory cephalic vein (V. cephalica accessoria), which arises from the carpal network, runs upward along the inner border of the extensor carpi, turns along the lower border of the brachialis, passes under the superficial tendon of the biceps and joins the cephalic.

The deep veins of the forearm are variable. Commonly two posterior radial veins (Venæ medianoradiales) accompany the artery of like name, one in front and one behind. A third vein arises by radicles emerging from the proximal part of the deep flexor; it joins the posterior satellite of the posterior radial artery or forms one of the roots of the brachial vein. The common interosseous vein joins the posterior satellite. The anterior radial vein (V. collateralis radialis) is a satellite of the artery. The ulnar vein is usually double at its proximal part, and communicates with the deep brachial vein.

There are three chief metacarpal veins. The internal metacarpal vein (V. metacarpea volaris superficialis medialis) arises from the volar venous arch above the fetlock. It is the largest vein of the region and lies in front of the large metacarpal artery. It separates from the artery at the proximal end of the metacarpus, passes upward on the inner part of the posterior surface of the carpus, under cover of the superficial layer of the posterior annular ligament, and is continued as the cephalic vein. It communicates at its proximal part with the origin of the posterior radial veins by a short but relatively large branch. The external metacarpal vein (V. metacarpea volaris superficialis lateralis) arises from the venous arch above the fetlock and passes upward behind the external border of the suspensory ligament in front of the external branch of the median nerve and accompanied by a small artery. At the proximal end of the metacarpus it is connected with the deep metacarpal vein by two transverse anastomoses which pass across the suspensory ligament. It then passes upward as a satellite of the external volar metacarpal artery and concurs in the origin of the ulnar and posterior radial veins. The deep metacarpal vein (V. metacarpea volaris profunda medialis) arises from the venous arch, passes forward between the two branches of the suspensory ligament, and ascends on the posterior surface of the large metacarpal bone. At the proximal end of the latter it communicates with the other metacarpal veins, ascends with the small metacarpal artery, and concurs in forming the radial veins.

The venous arch (Arcus venosus volaris), from which the metacarpal veins arise, is situated above the sesamoids of the fetlock between the suspensory ligament and the deep flexor tendon. It is formed by the junction of the two digital veins.

The digital veins, internal and external (V. digitalis medialis, lateralis), drain the venous plexuses of the foot. They arise at the upper edge of the lateral cartilages and ascend in front of the corresponding arteries.

It is convenient to recognize the following venous plexuses of the foot, which, however, communicate very freely:

1. The coronary plexus encircles the upper part of the foot. It is attached to the terminal part of the extensor tendon, the lateral cartilages, and the bulbs of the plantar cushion.

2. The dorsal (or laminal) plexus covers the dorsal or wall surface of the third phalanx in the deep layer of the matrix of the wall of the hoof. It forms the circumflex vein of the third phalanx or vein of the distal border of the third phalanx, which corresponds to the artery of like name.

3. The volar plexus is in the deep layer of the matrix of the sole of the hoof and on the deep surface of the lateral cartilages. It communicates around the inferior border of the third phalanx with the dorsal plexus and through the lateral cartilages with the coronary plexus.

The deep vein of the third phalanx accompanies the terminal part of the digital artery. It drains the intraosseous plexus.