Septum in the external jugular vein

Abstract

We examined 70 external jugular veins from 35 cadavers. In six veins we observed a septum, 6-25 mm long, which completely divided the lumen of the vein. The septum, which has not been previously described, was located approximately 5 cm superior to the vein's termination into the subclavian vein. Histologically, the septum is composed of tunica intima and tunica media in contrast to venous valves which are composed of tunica intima only.