Internal jugular veins

Looks like

A large vein on each side of the neck, beside the carotid under the sternocleidomastoid.

What it does

Drains blood from the brain, face and neck back to the heart.

Keeping it well

Used for central lines; bulging neck veins when sitting up suggest heart failure. Clots here follow throat infections.

Its parts

• Right internal jugular vein
• Common facial vein
• Dural venous sinuses
• Orbital veins
• Lingual vein
• Superior thyroid vein

Related conditions

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia & APS)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Varicose veins