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Mnemonic

Superficial Veins of the Upper Limb

A memory aid for the main superficial veins of the arm.

Anatomy Upper Limb
Expansion

Cephalic vein laterally, basilic vein medially, median cubital vein joining them at the elbow

Expansion

  • Cephalic vein - runs up the lateral (thumb) side of the arm and drains into the axillary vein
  • Basilic vein - runs up the medial side and becomes the brachial then axillary vein
  • Median cubital vein - connects the cephalic and basilic veins across the cubital fossa

Memory hook: the cephalic vein climbs towards the head (ceph = head) on the lateral side.