[The external carotid vein. Historical review of Paul Launay's work]

The authors, one century later, review the anatomical studies conducted by Launay, a student of Farabeuf, concerning the venous drainage of the face and neck. These studies were based on the analogy between the arterial system and the venous drainage of the external carotid territory. After describing the external carotid vein, the didactic and practical aspects of this study are emphasized.