Posterior facial vein

The retromandibular vein is a branch of the jugular veins. The jugular veins go up the neck and join with the facial vein, which drain blood from the face and return it to the heart for oxygenation. The retromandibular vein is formed at the joining of the maxillary vein and the superficial temporal vein in front of the ear. The retromandibular vein divides into two branches, anterior and posterior. The anterior portion proceeds forward to the anterior facial vein, and together they join to form the common facial vein. The posterior joins the posterior auricular vein to become the external jugular.

The facial vein or anterior facial vein is a relatively large vein in the human face. It commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch. It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course. It receives blood from the external palatine vein before it either joins the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein , or drains directly into the internal jugular vein. A common misconception states that the facial vein has no valves , but this has been contradicted by recent studies. Its walls are not so flaccid as most superficial veins.

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Supratochlear and supraorbital veins from the scalp unite near the medial angle of the eye to form the angular vein. It passes downwards and backwards and becomes the facial vein. It passes behind the facial artery.