The dorsal venous network of the hand is a network of veins within the superficial fascia on the
dorsum (backside) of hand.
It is formed by the
dorsal metacarpal veins
The dorsal digital veins from the adjacent sides of the fingers unite to form three dorsal metacarpal veins, which end in a dorsal venous net-work opposite the middle of the metacarpus.
They are a popular site for peripheral venous cannulation
...
, and gives rise to veins such as the
cephalic vein
In human anatomy, the cephalic vein is a superficial vein in the arm. It originates from the radial end of the dorsal venous network of hand, and ascends along the radial (lateral) side of the arm before emptying into the axillary vein. At the ...
and the
basilic vein
The basilic vein is a large superficial vein of the upper limb that helps drain parts of the hand and forearm. It originates on the medial (ulnar) side of the dorsal venous network of the hand and travels up the base of the forearm, where its co ...
.
References
Veins of the upper limb
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