circumflex humeral vein

The circumflex humeral vein is a vein that drains blood from the region surrounding the neck of the humerus and empties into the axillary vein as one of its tributaries.

The circumflex humeral vein is located around the surgical neck of the humerus in the shoulder region, accompanying the circumflex humeral arteries before joining the axillary vein.

The circumflex humeral vein is involved in draining venous blood from the soft tissues and muscles surrounding the proximal humerus and shoulder joint back to the axillary venous system.

Proximal humerus fractures, shoulder dislocations, axillary vein thrombosis, or surgical procedures around the shoulder may be associated with involvement of the circumflex humeral vein.

The circumflex humeral vein may be assessed through Doppler ultrasound of the shoulder vessels, CT or MRI angiography of the shoulder, or during surgical exploration of the axillary and shoulder regions.