Maxillary veins

Looks like

Short veins deep in the face behind the jaw, draining a network of veins among the chewing muscles (the pterygoid plexus).

What it does

Carry blood from the jaws, teeth, chewing muscles and nose into the retromandibular vein.

Keeping it well

The network they drain can bleed during dental nerve blocks, giving a bruise inside the cheek that settles by itself.

Related conditions

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