Three superficial veins coursing over the clavicles: a case report

We report a unique bilateral combination of multiple variations in the superficial venous system of the neck of a 77-year-old male cadaver. On the right side of the neck, the external jugular vein (EJV) crossed superficial to the lateral third of the clavicle constituting a common trunk with the cephalic vein (CV) that drained into the subclavian vein (SCV). On the left side the EJV descended distally, passed over the anterior surface of the medial third of the clavicle and drained into the SCV. The posterior external jugular vein (PEJV) crossed superficial to the lateral third of the clavicle and terminated into the CV, providing an additional communicating branch to the EJV. Knowledge of both normal and abnormal anatomy of the veins of the neck plays an important role for anesthesiologists or cardiologists doing catheterization, orthopedic surgeons treating clavicle fractures and general surgeons performing head and neck surgery, to avoid inadvertent injury to these vascular structures.