glossary

jugular vein

Definition jugular vein

jugular vein

jugular vein any one of several veins in the neck. The internal jugular is a very large paired vein running vertically down the side of the neck and draining blood from the brain, face, and neck. It enfs behind the sternoclavicular joint, where it joints the subclavian vein. The external jugular is a smaller paired vein running superficially down the neck to the subclavian vein and draining blood from the face, scalp, and neck. Its tributary, the anterior jugular, runs down the front of the neck.