The cephalic vein
Cephalic vein · vena cephalica
A vein running up the thumb side of your arm just under the skin.
What it does
The cephalic vein starts on the back of the hand and runs up the outer side of the forearm and arm, then dives in between the deltoid and the chest muscle to join the axillary vein.
Surprising fact
Its name comes from the Greek for "head", because medieval doctors believed bleeding from it would treat ailments of the head.
Why it matters
It is a convenient vein for drips, and surgeons use it to insert pacemaker leads, because it leads straight to the large veins near the heart.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.