The cephalic vein is a superficial vein that runs along the lateral aspect of the forearm and upper arm, from the wrist area up to the shoulder, where it dives deep to join the axillary vein. It is one of the most commonly accessed veins for intravenous lines and blood draws. In vascular ultrasound, the cephalic vein is evaluated as part of upper extremity venous studies for thrombosis and is also assessed preoperatively before the creation of dialysis access fistulas. On ultrasound, the cephalic vein should be easily visible as a superficial, compressible vessel, and its diameter and patency are important factors in determining its suitability for vascular access procedures.
Sonography Term