Superficial vein

Superficial vein
Superficial veins become more prominent when muscles are flexed
Details
Identifiers
Latin	vena superficialis
TA98	A12.0.00.036
TA2	3910
FMA	76719
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

A superficial vein is a vein that is close to the surface of the body. This differs from deep veins that are far from the surface.

Superficial veins are not paired with an artery, unlike the deep veins, which typically have an artery with the same name close by.

Superficial veins are important physiologically for cooling of the body. When the body is too hot the body shunts blood from the deep veins to the superficial veins, to facilitate heat transfer to the surroundings. Superficial veins can be seen under the skin. Those below the level of the heart tend to bulge out. This can be readily witnessed in the hand: raised above the heart and the blood should drain; lowered below the heart and it will fill. Veins become more visually prominent when lifting heavy weight, especially after a period of proper strength training.

Physiologically, the superficial veins are not as important as the deep veins (as they carry less blood) and are sometimes removed in a procedure called vein stripping, which is used to treat varicose veins.^[1]

The United States Department of Health and Human Services makes the following distinction, "Spider veins can usually be seen under the skin, but they do not make the skin bulge out like varicose veins do."^[2]

Some named superficial veins[]

• external jugular vein

Upper limb[]

• cephalic vein – glides along the biceps: the "signature vein" of bodybuilders
• median cubital vein – often used to draw blood (venipuncture).
• basilic vein – usually the largest vein in the arm: often used for dialysis access

Lower limb[]

• small saphenous vein
• great saphenous vein – often "harvested" for coronary artery bypass surgery

See also[]

• Deep veins
• Varicose veins
• Vascularity

References[]

External links[]

• The Veins of the Lower Extremity, Abdomen, and Pelvis – Gray's Anatomy.
• Varicose vein therapy – medlineplus.org