accessory cephalic vein

7.0

A small vein on the outer side of the forearm that joins a larger vein near the elbow

noun

Specialized

: vena cefálica accesoria

The accessory cephalic vein is often used for venipuncture.

Examples

The surgeon identified the accessory cephalic vein before making an incision near the patient’s elbow.
Anatomy students often use models to trace the path of the accessory cephalic vein along the forearm.
During the procedure, the accessory cephalic vein was carefully preserved to maintain effective blood flow in the arm.
Surgeons can locate the accessory cephalic vein easily.
Anatomy students often use models to trace the path of the accessory cephalic vein along the forearm.
During the procedure, the accessory cephalic vein was carefully preserved to maintain effective blood flow in the arm.
The surgeon identified the accessory cephalic vein before making an incision near the patient's elbow.

Synonyms

vena cephalica accessoria

vsaccessory cephalic vein

Specialized

9.7

A small vein on the outer side of the forearm that joins a main vein near the elbow

is the common English medical term for that same vein

Surface Forms

accessory cephalic vein singular

accessory cephalic veins plural

Morphology

accessory + cephalic + vein

Although 'accessory' (auxiliary) and 'vein' (blood vessel) are semantically transparent, 'cephalic' is a specialized anatomical label whose literal meaning 'related to the head' does not transparently indicate a superficial forearm vein. The phrase is a conventional anatomical name rather than a predictable composition, so a B1 learner who knows the parts would not reliably deduce the specific anatomical meaning.

Etymology

Accessory cephalic vein names an 'extra' vein on the thumb side of the forearm. The word accessory means 'extra' and cephalic vein is the main surface vein there, so this 'accessory cephalic vein' is the small vein that runs along the forearm and joins the main one near the elbow.