title: Multiple variations of the superficial jugular veins: case report and clinical relevance.
abstract: The jugular venous system constitutes the primary venous drainage of the head and neck. It includes a profundus or subfascial venous system, formed by the two internal jugular veins, and a superficial or subcutaneous one, formed by the two anterior and two external jugular veins. We report one case of unilateral anatomical variations of the external and anterior jugular veins. Particularly, on the right side, three external jugular veins co-existed with two anterior jugular veins. Such a combination of venous anomalies is extremely rare. The awareness of the variability of these veins is essential to anesthesiologists and radiologists, since the external jugular vein constitutes a common route for catheterization. Their knowledge is also important to surgeons performing head and neck surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paraskevas
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Natsis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Orestis
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ioannidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kitsoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anastasopoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spyridakis
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000002:abnormalities*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Anterior jugular vein; External jugular vein; Multiple veins