Guidelines for Veins Used for Drainage or Injection for Embalming

Internal Jugular Veins 

  An imaginary guideline for the internal jugular veins is from the sternoclavicular articulation to the ear lobes, angles of the mandible or the mastoid processes of the temporal bones. The internal jugular veins lie lateral and superficial to the common carotid arteries.

Brachiocephalic or Innominate Veins

  An imaginary guideline for the Brachiocephalic or Innominate veins is from a point just posterior to the sternoclavicular articulation and posterior to the right margin of the sternum at the first intercostal space. Improper positioning of the neck obstructs the flow of blood through these veins during the embalming process creating discolorations in the face and/or frogging of the neck.

Superior Vena Cava     

  An imaginary guideline for the Superior Vena Cava is from a point just posterior to the sternum in the first intercostal space to a point to the right margin of the sternum at the third intercostal space. It enters in the formation of the right atrium of the heart. This is the site of importance to the practitioner who must retrieve blood samples from tissue donors. A vacuum hypodermic is used to take blood samples of donors. The needle is inserted medially between the second and third intercostal space. Some practitioners will draw blood just interior to the medial portion of the Poupart’s ligament (see femoral).

Axillary Vein

  An imaginary guideline for the Axillary Vein is a point at the middle of the lateral boundary of the base of the axillary space to a point at the center of the axillary space (hairline). It is a continuation of the Brachial/Basilic vein which terminates at the outer border of the first rib (infraclavicular fossa).

Brachial/Basilic Vein

  An imaginary guideline for the Brachial/Bacilic Vein is along bicipital groove between the biceps and triceps muscles. The vein lies above the brachial artery and provides a visual landmark for the artery.

Inferior Vena Cava

  An imaginary guideline for the Inferior Vena Cava is a point 1 inch inferior to the umbilicus and right of the vertebra column and extends inferiorly 6-8 inches sloping laterally from the midline approximately 1 inch. The inferior vena cava bifurcates at the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae. To be correct, the origin of the Inferior Vena Cava is the union of the right and left common iliac veins at the third or fourth lumbar vertebrae. The venous system begins at the most distal points and flows toward the heart.

Common Iliac and External Iliac Veins

  An imaginary guideline of the Common Iliac and External Iliac is from a point ½ inch medial to the middle third of the inguinal ligament (Poupart’s ligament) to a point one inch below the umbilicus and slightly to the right of the vertebrae column (lumbar vertebrae). The lower half of these guidelines represents the external veins iliac and the upper half represents the common iliac veins.

Femoral Veins

  An imaginary guideline of the femoral veins is from the medial epicondyle of the femur (knee joint) to a point ½ inch medial to the middle third of the inguinal ligament (Poupart’s ligament) – the upper 2/3 represents the femoral vein. A vacuum hypodermic is used to take blood samples of donors for testing.

Anatomical Regional Boundaries Associated with the Vascular System

Axillary Region

  Anterior boundary – forms the base of the axillary space found within the fold of skin which envelopes the lateral border of the pectoralis major muscle.

  Posterior boundary – forms the base of the axillary space found within the fold of skin which envelopes the lateral border of the latissimus dorsa muscle.

  Medial boundary – the base of the axillary space is where the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsa muscles blend into the chest wall.

  Lateral boundary – the base of the axillary space is the connecting points where the pectoralis major and the latissimus dorsa muscles blend into the arm.

  Inguinal ligament (Poupart’s ligament) boundary – An imaginary guideline from the anterior superior crest of the iliac spine to the Symphysis pubis.

Scarpa’s Triangle (Femoral Trigon) Region

  Superior – Inguinal or Poupart’s ligament; Laterally – Sartorius muscle; Medially – Adductor Longus muscle; Posterior – Iliac (Psoas, Pectineus, Adductor longus).

Hunter’s Canal Region

  An aponeurotic space in the middle third of the thigh, extending from the apex of Scarpa’s triangle (where the Sartorius and adductor longus converge) to the femoral opening in the Adductor magnum muscle. It is bounded externally by the vastus internus muscle and internally by the adductor longus and adductor magus muscles. The Femoral Artery and vein are covered (protected) by a strong aponeurosis (flat tendon) which extends transversely across the vessels.

Popliteal Region

  Inferior lateral boundary – Medial border of the lateral head of the gastrocnemius (lateral condyle of the femur); Inferior medial boundary – Lateral border of the medial head of the Gastrocnemius (medial condyle of the femur);           Supra – medial boundary – medial border of the semimembranosus muscle; Supra – lateral boundary – medial border of the biceps femoral. The popliteal artery and vein pass through the diamond shaped popliteal space.

  Embalming Technology (Part 12) will deal with Anatomical Positioning of the Body and the Analytical Approach to Embalming.