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# Brachial veins

The brachial veins are paired deep veins on each side of the brachial artery in the upper arm; they drain the deep tissues of the arm.

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## What it is

Paired deep veins that run beside the brachial artery.

## What it does

Drain the deep tissues of the arm.

## Key points

- Two companion veins (venae comitantes) on either side of the brachial artery, joined by small cross-links over it
- The beat of the artery inside their shared sheath helps push blood upward in them
- They lie beside the [median nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/median-nerve/) and the brachial artery, so using them for a PICC carries more risk than using the basilic vein

## Key facts

**Drains**
Radial and ulnar veins (paired companions of the brachial artery)

**Into**
Axillary vein (with the basilic)

## Relations

**Course**
Formed near the elbow by the [radial and ulnar veins](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/radial-and-ulnar-veins/), they ascend on both sides of the [brachial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-artery/) and join the [basilic vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/basilic-vein/) near the lower border of [teres major](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/teres-major/) to form the [axillary vein](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/axillary-vein/)

**Medial**
The basilic vein from mid-arm; the [ulnar nerve](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/ulnar-nerve/) in the upper arm

## How to find it

Not palpable. On ultrasound of the medial arm they appear as two small veins on either side of the brachial artery in the groove medial to the biceps; they collapse under probe pressure, which is how a clot is ruled out.

## On imaging

On ultrasound they are two small compressible veins on either side of the brachial artery; a vein that does not compress suggests a clot.

## Clinical notes

- [Upper limb](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/region/upper-limb/) deep vein thrombosis, usually linked to catheters or pacemaker leads, can involve them
- When the cephalic and basilic veins are unsuitable, a brachial vein can be transposed to build a dialysis fistula
- A PICC line is often placed under ultrasound into the basilic vein or a brachial vein; at the brachial site the needle passes close to the artery and the median nerve

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## How are the brachial veins arranged around the brachial artery?

Two companion veins (venae comitantes), one on each side, joined by small cross-links over it.

## What helps push blood upward in the brachial veins?

The beat of the brachial artery inside their shared sheath.

## Why does using the brachial veins for a PICC carry more risk than using the basilic vein?

They lie beside the median nerve and the brachial artery.

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Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.

## Its names

**Official Latin (TA2)**
venae brachiales TA2 4982

**Official Spanish (DeCS)**
Venas braquiales

**English (TA2)**
Brachial veins

## Related

- [Brachial artery](https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-artery/)

Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); [Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Veins](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546676/).

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-veins/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/anatomy/brachial-veins/