top of page
MEDYMOLOGY
ARBOR VITAE FOR HEALTH SCIENCES
Cephalic vein
Etymology:
Definition:
From the Arabic al-kifal: “outer”, so named because of its location in the arm where "outer" is meaning more anatomically lateral relative to other veins in the arm (e.g., basilic vein, brachial vein)
In human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a relatively lateral/outer superficial vein in the arm. It originates from the radial end of the dorsal venous network of hand, and ascends along the radial (lateral/outer) side of the arm before emptying into the axillary vein. At the elbow, it communicates with the basilic vein via the median cubital vein.
bottom of page