Internal jugular vein
Latin: Vena jugularis interna sinistra
Location: Neck
Paired structure: one on the left and one on the right side of the body.
View the internal jugular vein in 3DCourse
Emerges from the jugular foramen as the sigmoid sinus's continuation, descends in the carotid sheath lateral to the carotid and vagus, and joins the subclavian vein behind the sternoclavicular joint to form the left brachiocephalic vein.
Drains
Brain (dural venous sinuses), face, neck and tongue — the head's venous trunk line.
Clinical relevance
The cannulation workhorse of intensive care, targeted between the sternal and clavicular heads of sternocleidomastoid. Its height above the sternum grades right atrial pressure — the JVP, cardiology's oldest non-invasive measurement. Thrombophlebitis here (Lemierre syndrome) seeds septic pulmonary emboli.
Educational anatomy reference, not medical advice. About this content.