Occipital vein

Occipital vein
Veins of the head and neck. (Occipial visible at left.)
Lateral head anatomy detail
Details
Drains fromScalp, occiput
Drains toSuboccipital venous plexus
ArteryOccipital artery
Identifiers
Latinvenae encephali occipitales
TA98A12.3.04.013
TA24781
FMA50802
Anatomical terminology

The occipital vein is a vein of the scalp. It originates from a plexus around the external occipital protuberance and superior nuchal line to the back part of the vertex of the skull. It usually drains into the internal jugular vein, but may also drain into the posterior auricular vein (which joins the external jugular vein). It drains part of the scalp.