Theexternal jugular vein is a pairedjugular vein which receives the greater part of the blood from the exterior of thecranium and the deep parts of theface, being formed by the junction of the posterior division of theretromandibular vein with theposterior auricular vein.

External jugular vein
Veins of the head and neck. (External jugular visible at center.)
Veins
Details
Drains from	Cranium,face
Source	Posterior facial vein,posterior auricular vein,retromandibular vein,anterior jugular vein, transverse cervical vein, suprascapular vein
Drains to	Subclavian vein
Identifiers
Latin	vena jugularis externa
TA98	A12.3.05.045
TA2	4956
FMA	13110
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The external jugular vein commences in the substance of theparotid gland, on a level with theangle of the mandible, and runs perpendicularly down the neck, in the direction of a line drawn from the angle of the mandible to the middle of the clavicle superficial to thesternocleidomastoid muscle.^[1]

In its course, it crosses the sternocleidomastoid muscle obliquely, and in thesubclavian triangle perforates thedeep fascia, and ends in thesubclavian vein lateral to or in front of thescalenus anterior, piercing the roof of theposterior triangle.

It is separated from the sternocleidomastoid muscle by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by theplatysma, the superficial fascia, and the integument; it crosses the cutaneous cervical nerve, and its upper half runs parallel with thegreat auricular nerve.

It is provided with two pairs of valves, the lower pair being placed at its entrance into the subclavian vein, the upper in most cases about 4 cm above the clavicle. The portion of vein between the two sets of valves is often dilated, and is termed the sinus.

These valves do not prevent the regurgitation of the blood, or the passage of injection from below upward.^[2]

The external jugular vein varies in size, bearing an inverse proportion to the other veins of the neck, it is occasionally double.^[3]

This vein receives theoccipital vein occasionally, theposterior external jugular, and, near its termination, thetransverse cervical,transverse scapular, andanterior jugular veins; in the substance of theparotid, a large branch of communication from theinternal jugular joins it.

The external jugular vein drains into the subclavian vein lateral to the junction of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein.

The external jugular is a large vein used inprehospital medicine for venous access when the paramedic is unable to find another peripheral vein.^[4] It is commonly used incardiac arrest or other situations where the patient is unresponsive due to the pain associated with the procedure.^{[citation needed]} During a cardiac arrest, using this vein has the advantage of allowing the paramedic to stay at the head and intubate the patient as well. Although many EMTs and paramedics use this vein, theAmerican Heart Association still recommends the use of thecephalic vein.^{[citation needed]}

•  
  Veins of the thoracic and abdominal regions
•  
  Muscles of the head, face, and neck.
•  
  Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.
•  
  The venæ cavæ and azygos veins, with their tributaries.

• Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency
• Jugular vein

 This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 646 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)

• lesson4 at The Anatomy Lesson by Wesley Norman (Georgetown University) (parotid2)