Facial vein

Facial vein
Veins of the head and neck (facial vein labeles as Anterior facial at right center, at cheek, to right of masseter)
Dissection, showing salivary glands of right side (facial vein labeled as Anterior facial vein at bottom right)
Details
Drains fromAngular vein
Drains toInternal jugular vein
ArteryFacial artery
Identifiers
Latinvena facialis anterior
TA98A12.3.05.018
TA24817
FMA50874
Anatomical terminology

The facial vein (or anterior facial vein) is a relatively large vein in the human face. It commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch.

It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course. It receives blood from the external palatine vein before it either joins the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein, or drains directly into the internal jugular vein. There are valves in the facial vein.[1] Its walls are not so flaccid as most superficial veins.

  1. ^ Zhang J, Stringer MD (July 2010). "Ophthalmic and facial veins are not valveless". Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 38 (5): 502–10. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.2010.02325.x. PMID 20491800.