jugular vein

noun

: any of several veins of each side of the neck that return blood from the head

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web To sunny Transylvania, in fact (turn right at Budapest, follow signs to the Borgo Pass), where an abundance of garlic-wielding peasants and howling wolves seems to suggest that said client (pale chap, a little odd, sleeps in a coffin) might have an unhealthy interest in his guest’s jugular vein. Anna Mundow, WSJ, 5 June 2020 Ornithologists have concluded that beaks and spongy skulls with unique musculature provide the cushioning, not jugular vein compression. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2022 With a minimally-invasive procedure, the BCI is implanted in the blood vessel on the surface of the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 15 Dec. 2022 The stent-like device is threaded through a small slit in the neck up through the jugular vein and pushed into the brain. WIRED, 1 Dec. 2022 Parkhurst put a tiny tube through an incision into the patient’s jugular vein in his neck and slowly advanced it down past the heart into the vena cava where the filter was located. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 30 Nov. 2022 For instance, the Q collar was developed around 2016 to mimic how the woodpecker's long tongue can wrap around the head and pinch the jugular vein. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 July 2022 To avoid injury while using a massager, Giordano says to stick to the muscles in the back of your neck (especially avoid massaging right on the jugular vein on the side of the neck). Milan Polk And Dale Arden Chong, Men's Health, 8 June 2022 Glover fired four times, striking Awad three times, including a shot that pierced his jugular vein. Clifford Ward, chicagotribune.com, 28 Mar. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jugular vein.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jugular vein was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near jugular vein

Cite this Entry

“Jugular vein.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jugular%20vein. Accessed 10 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

jugular vein

noun
: any of several veins on each side of the neck that return blood from the head

called also jugular

Medical Definition

jugular vein

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

More from Merriam-Webster on jugular vein

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!