Anat Cell Biol.  2019 Dec;52(4):390-396. 10.5115/acb.19.142.

The best vein to be accessed based on descriptive study of dorsal metacarpal vein

• Salameh MA
• Shatarat A
• Badran DH
• Abu-Abeeleh MA
• Massad IM
• Bani-Hani

• KMID: 2466691
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.19.142

Abstract

It is well known that the most common sites for venous access are the superficial veins of the upper limb, particularly dorsal metacarpal veins and median cubital vein. Although dorsal metacarpal veins are the first choice for venous cannulation, there is scarce information about their anatomic variation. Hence, detailed anatomical information about these veins will improve the anatomic knowledge of the health care providers. Subsequently, this study was designed to study the dorsal metacarpal veins and to determine the most prominent dorsal metacarpal vein. A cross sectional study of 402 subjects (804 hands), was prepared to study the superficial veins on the dorsum of the hand among Jordanian students and staff of one of the major governmental medical colleges in Jordan, by using infrared illumination system. The obtained data was analyzed according to sex, sidedness, and handedness. Six locations of the most prominent dorsal metacarpal veins were identified. There was a significant relation between both females and males and the most prominent dorsal metacarpal vein (P=0.01). For the first time this study identified the most common location of the most prominent dorsal metacarpal vein in the fourth intermetacarpal space.

Keyword

Anatomic variation; Dorsal metacarpal veins; Hand; Veins; Venous access

MeSH Terms

Anatomic Variation
Catheterization
Female
Functional Laterality
Hand
Health Personnel
Humans
Jordan
Lighting
Male
Upper Extremity
Veins*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 (A) Left hand showing long dorsal metacarpal veins (1) and (2), which neither bifurcate nor unite and continue to pass on the dorsum of the hand between the metacarpophalangeal joints. (B) Right hand showing the dorsal metacarpal veins (1), which bifurcate into two veins (2) and (3). (C) Right hand showing short dorsal metacarpal veins (1) and (2), which unite near their origin to form one long dorsal metacarpal vein (3). (D) Right hand showing two adjacent dorsal metacarpal veins (1) and (2), which unite away from their origin to form one short dorsal metacarpal vein (3). (E) Left hand showing two short dorsal metacarpal veins (1) and (2), which unite near their origin and form one long dorsal metacarpal vein (3) passes parallel to the corresponding extensor tendon. (F) Left hand showing dorsal metacarpal veins running in different directions and forming network of veins on the dorsum of the hand with no prominent vein.

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  Fig. 2 Illustration of the different courses and communications of the dorsal metacarpal veins showing long dorsal metacarpal veins (A). (B) Short dorsal metacarpal veins which bifurcate into two veins. (C) Short dorsal metacarpal veins which unite near their origin to form one long dorsal metacarpal vein (D) Two adjacent dorsal metacarpal veins (1) which unite away from their origin to form one short dorsal metacarpal vein. (E) Two short dorsal metacarpal veins which unite near their origin and form one long dorsal metacarpal vein. (F) Dorsal metacarpal veins running in different directions and forming network of veins on the dorsum of the hand with no prominent vein.

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  Fig. 3 (A) Left hand showing prominent dorsal metacarpal vein (1) in the second metacarpal space between the second and third metacarpophalangeal joints. (B) Right hand showing prominent dorsal metacarpal vein (1) in the third metacarpal space between the third and fourth metacarpophalangeal joints. (C) Left hand showing prominent dorsal metacarpal vein (1) in the fourth metacarpal space between fourth and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints. (D) Left hand showing two short dorsal metacarpal veins (1) and (2) unite to form one prominent dorsal metacarpal vein (3) parallel to the extensor digitorum tendon of the fourth digit (ring finger). (E) Left hand showing two prominent dorsal metacarpal veins, one vein (1) in the second metacarpal space, between the second and third metacarpophalangeal joints and another vein (2) in the third metacarpal space between the third and fourth metacarpophalangeal joints. (F) Left hand showing two prominent dorsal metacarpal veins, one vein (1) in the third metacarpal space between third and fourth metacarpophalangeal joints and another vein (2) in fourth metacarpal space between fourth and fifth metacarpophalangeal joints.

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  Fig. 4 Illustration of the classification of the most prominent dorsal metacarpal veins according to their origin.

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