US Medical Term · anatomy
Jugular Vein
Vena yugular
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Jugular Vein |
| Spanish (Español) | Vena yugular |
| Chinese (中文) | 頸靜脈 |
| Korean (한국어) | 경정맥 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Tĩnh mạch cảnh |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Yugular na ugat |
| Portuguese (Português) | Veia jugular |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | หลอดเลือดดำคอ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 頸静脈 |
What it means
The jugular veins are large veins on each side of your neck that carry blood from the head and brain back to the heart. There are two main jugular veins on each side: the internal jugular, which drains blood from the brain, and the external jugular, which is visible under the skin and drains blood from the outer parts of the head and face. Doctors examine the jugular veins during a physical exam. Distended (bulging) jugular veins can signal heart failure or increased pressure in the chest. The internal jugular vein is often used by doctors to place a central line — a special catheter inserted into a large vein for delivering medications, fluids, or measuring blood pressure in seriously ill patients.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The ICU doctor placed a central line in my jugular vein to give me medications.
El médico de la UCI colocó una vía central en mi vena yugular para administrarme medicamentos.
My doctor noticed my jugular veins are distended, which might mean my heart is not pumping well.
Mi doctor notó que mis venas yugulares están distendidas, lo que podría significar que mi corazón no bombea bien.
Is the bulging vein in my neck the jugular vein?
¿La vena que sobresale en mi cuello es la vena yugular?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026