Main Entry: jugular vein

Function: noun

: any of several veins of each side of the neck: as a : a vein that collects the blood from the interior of the cranium, the superficial part of the face, and the neck, runs down the neck on the outside of the internal and common carotid arteries, and unites with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein—called also internal jugular vein b : a smaller and more superficial vein that collects most of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and deep parts of the face and opens into the subclavian vein—called also external jugular vein c : a vein that commences near the hyoid bone and joins the terminal part of the external jugular vein or the subclavian vein—called also anterior jugular vein