Facial vein

Facial vein is a significant vein that drains the facial region of the human body. It is a part of the venous system that helps in returning deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. The facial vein is also known as the anterior facial vein and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where the supratrochlear vein merges with the supraorbital vein.

Anatomy

The facial vein begins at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where the supratrochlear vein merges with the supraorbital vein. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course. It runs obliquely downward and backward, beneath the zygomaticus and quadratus labii superioris, and then descends nearly vertically down the face, along the anterior border of the masseter.

Function

The facial vein performs the crucial function of draining the facial region. It collects blood from the external palatine vein before it either continues to the internal jugular vein or directly drains into the anterior jugular vein.

Clinical significance

The facial vein is clinically significant as it is an accessible vein for intravenous therapy. It is also important in the spread of infections from the face to the cranial cavity due to the absence of valves.

See also

• Vein
• Venous system
• Facial artery
• Internal jugular vein
• Anterior jugular vein

References

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Facial_vein

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  Diagram of the facial vein

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  Lateral view of head anatomy

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  Anterior-posterior view of head anatomy

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  Facial vein

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  Facial vein