Vena Basilica: Structure, Function & Diseases

Veins are essential to one of the most important organs in the human body: the heart is constantly supplied by the blood that the veins (also called blood vessels) carry to the organ. The veins of the body are all connected to the heart, including the vena basilica.

What is the vena basilica?

The vena basilica (Arabic : al-baslik, “inside” ) runs along the arm and collects blood in the hand and forearm, which then runs into the upper arm. It is large as well as superficial and opens in the medial biceps furrow (sulcus bicipitalis lateralis), specifically in the hiatus basilicus. This is a part of the enveloping layer, which consists of connective tissue. Thus, the basilic vein is central to the humerus, as it lies between the biceps and triceps. From the fascia, the bisilar vein opens into the subcutaneous tissue, the lowest layer of the skin. The vena basilica should not be confused with the “royal vein,” as the Latin word “basilica” means “royal hall.” However, this is misleading and has a different meaning than basilar vein.

Anatomy and structure

The basilic vein, along with the so-called cephalic vein, is one of the two important major veins (main veins) in the arm of the human body. Although the cephalic vein is the cutaneous vein of the forearm, both open subcutaneously (in the lowest layer of the skin) and both run quite variably. The basilica antebrachii vein begins on the ulnar side of the dorsum of the hand, which means that it faces the side of the forearm. There it reaches the flexor side of the forearm, the elbow. Here it runs with the median cubital vein. From the elbow on, the bisilar vein is now no longer called the antebrachii (Arabic : forearm), but the vena basilica. The vena mediana cubiti connects the bisilar vein with the cephalic vein and is usually located at the aponeurosis bicipitalis, a tendon strip of the forearm muscle. From the tendon strip, it continues to the hiatus basilicus, a slit in the fascia located on the front of the humerus. This is also where the medial cutaneus antebrachii nerve opens, in the lowest layer of skin, the subcutaneous tissue. Since the bisilar vein opens here, it is located between the two major arm muscles, the biceps and triceps. After the middle of the upper arm, the basilar vein continues to the teres major muscle, a shoulder muscle. It then forms a very deep vein of the forearm, the axillary vein, with the brachial vein. It transports blood from the hand with the basilar and brachial veins.

Function and tasks

As one of two major veins in the arm, the basilic vein functions only in conjunction with other veins. The blood vessels possess the task of carrying blood throughout the body to the heart. They transport the blood, which is already used and deoxygenated, from the legs and arms back to the heart, whereupon the organ pumps the oxygen-rich blood back to all parts of the body. However, since the blood cannot reach the heart on its own, the body has a so-called pumping system. This begins in the feet: the pressure of the sole of the foot when walking creates further pressure in the veins, whereupon the blood is forced out of the veins and transported to the heart. In the ankle muscles are responsible for creating pressure so that the blood in the veins is carried to the heart. The largest pumping system is located in the calf muscles: when the calf muscle contracts, the blood is pumped back particularly quickly. The blood is nevertheless transported calmly to the heart because the veins are very elastic and absorb the pressure. The venous valves are particularly important in the transport of blood, because they allow the blood to be directed only to the heart and prevent backflow. These valves are located in several veins of the body, so the blood travels to the heart as if through a one-way street.

Diseases

There are a great many veins in the human body that can be quickly affected by disease; among them is the basilica vein. Thrombosis is a congestion of blood in a vein that results from pathological complications. A classic cause of thrombosis is blood flow that is too slow: If the basilar vein carries blood too slowly to the axillary vein, this can lead to a flow vortex and thus thrombosis. Since the basilar vein in the elbow has a particularly large venous valve, a defect in the venous valves is very likely here.If the venous valves do not close and thus cannot prevent the backflow of blood, this can lead to slowed blood flow as well as venous pressure in the arm. Causes of defective venous valves include varicosis; defective venous valves may also be associated with thrombosis.