Cardiovascular system · Upper limb
Other hand veins !
The other hand veins are the venous arches of the palm and the finger veins; they drain the fingers and palm.
Official name: Palmar venous arches and digital veins
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What it is
Small veins of the palm and fingers.
What it does
Drain the fingers and palm.
Key facts
- Drains
- Palmar digital veins and the palmar venous arches
- Into
- Radial and ulnar veins; dorsal network
Relations
- Course
- Palmar digital veins drain into the superficial palmar venous plexus and arch; companion veins of the deep palmar arch join the deep forearm veins
How to find it
The palmar veins are small and hidden under the palmar aponeurosis; the intercapitular veins can be traced in the web spaces between the knuckles, where they join the dorsal network.
On imaging
Doppler ultrasound shows flow in the venous arches and companion veins when a thrombosis or a vascular malformation of the hand is suspected; MRI defines malformations in depth.
Clinical notes
- Finger replantation repairs dorsal veins for outflow; when no vein can be repaired, venous congestion may be relieved with medicinal leeches
- Palm wounds can bleed from both the arterial and the venous arches
- Most venous and lymphatic outflow of the palm passes to the back of the hand, so an infection in the palm often shows mainly as swelling on the dorsum
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What do the intercapitular veins of the hand connect?
Palmar and dorsal veins, passing between the metacarpal heads; gripping squeezes blood from the palm to the back of the hand.
Which veins mainly drain the fingers?
The dorsal veins, which are larger than the palmar ones.
In finger replantation, which veins are repaired for outflow?
Dorsal veins; when none can be repaired, venous congestion may be relieved with medicinal leeches.
Educational information, not medical advice. For any symptom, see a health professional.
Its names
- Official Latin (TA2)
- arcus venosus palmaris superficialis TA2 4986
- Official Spanish (DeCS)
- Arcos venosos palmares y venas digitales
- English (TA2)
- Palmar venous arches and digital veins
Sources: Terminologia Anatomica (TA2); Anatomy, Shoulder and Upper Limb, Veins; 20.5 Circulatory Pathways (OpenStax (Rice University), 2022) · adapted, CC BY 4.0.
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.
