Dorsal Digital Veins Anatomy
Description:
- The dorsal veins provide the primary venous drainage for the fingers.
- The tiny dorsal finger veins form a ladder pattern on the dorsum of the digit.
- The ladder is composed of a dorsal radial vein and a dorsal ulnar vein with interconnecting "steps".
- The "steps" are communicating veins running between the radial and ulnar dorsal veins.
- These communicating veins typically run obliquely.
- At the distal end of the digit in the area of the DIP joint, the usual pattern is a single dorsal central vein
Diagrams & Photos
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Dorsal Digital Veins (arrows) -
Dorsal Digital Vein (arrow) -
Veins of the upper extremity.
Key Points
- At the level of the web and the MP joints the dorsal digital veins join the dorsal venous metacarpal arcade.
- The dorsal venous metacarpal arcade drain into the cephalic and basilic veins.
- When a microsurgical replant of an amputated digit is performed, the surgical goal should be to repair of 2 or more dorsal veins.