Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Median basilic vein
Introduction
In human anatomy, the median cubital vein (or median basilic vein) a superficial vein of the upper limb. It connects the basilic and cephalic vein and is often used for venipuncture (taking blood). It lies in the cubital fossa superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis.
There exists a fair amount of variation of the median cubital vein. More commonly the vein forms an H-pattern with the cephalic and basilic veins making up the sides. Other forms include an M-pattern, where the vein branches to the cephalic and basilic veins.
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]