The jugular veins
Jugular veins · venae jugulares
The main veins draining blood from your head and neck.
What it does
The internal jugular vein runs beside the carotid artery deep in the neck and carries blood from the brain. The external jugular runs just under the skin on the side of the neck and drains the scalp and face. Both empty into the veins under the collarbone.
Surprising fact
Doctors can estimate the pressure in your heart by looking at how high the pulsation in your internal jugular vein reaches when you sit at an angle.
Why it matters
The external jugular often bulges when you strain, sing or cough, and a constantly swollen jugular can be a sign that the heart is struggling.
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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.