The jugular veins are major veins in the neck that return deoxygenated blood from the head to the heart. The internal jugular vein, the larger of the two, runs alongside the carotid artery and is commonly evaluated during carotid duplex ultrasound. It is also frequently used for central venous catheter placement, and ultrasound guidance has become the standard of care for this procedure. On ultrasound, the internal jugular vein is typically larger and more compressible than the adjacent carotid artery and shows respiratory variation in its Doppler signal. Thrombosis of the internal jugular vein can occur in association with central line placement, neck infections, or cancer.
Sonography Term