Dorsal venous network of hand

Looks like

The web of veins on the back of the hand, easily seen under the skin.

What it does

Collects blood from the fingers and hand, draining into the cephalic and basilic veins.

Keeping it well

A common place for drips (cannulas); a painful red line spreading from a cannula needs it removed.

Related conditions

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia & APS)
• De Quervain's tenosynovitis
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Dupuytren's contracture & trigger finger
• Ganglion cyst
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease)
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Repetitive strain & overuse injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Varicose veins