Upper limb
Median cubital vein
Vena mediana cubiti
- Origin
- Branches from the cephalic vein just distal to the antecubital fossa
- Insertion
- Crosses diagonally over the bicipital aponeurosis to join the basilic vein
- Function
- Superficial venous shunt connecting the cephalic and basilic systems in the antecubital fossa
- Innervation
- Sympathetic perivascular nerves
- Movement & chain
- Stabilized by underlying bicipital aponeurosis which prevents vein rolling during needle insertion
- Palpation
- Most prominent superficial vein in the center of the antecubital fossa
- Clinical
- World's most common phlebotomy and IV site; protected from the underlying brachial artery and median nerve by the bicipital aponeurosis
- Segmental innervation
- Cubital venous anastomotic system
- In clinical practice
- Gold standard vein for routine venipuncture, IV push medications, and contrast power injections
- Region in the model
- Upper limb