A cephalic vein drained into one of the double axillary veins through the pectoralis major muscle

Abstract

Although the cephalic vein follows a fairly consistent course, numerous variants have been reported. We found a rare anatomical presentation of the cephalic vein in a 43-year-old Korean male cadaver. The cephalic vein had anastomosed with the basilic vein and brachial vein at the level of the elbow, perforated the pectoralis major muscle between the clavicular and sternal heads, and then entered into one of the double axillary veins. Knowledge of the variations on the cephalic vein is important for clinicians as well as anatomists since the approach through the axillary base is favoured in many invasive procedures.