jugular vein

noun

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

Examples of jugular vein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s also used to monitor the jugular vein, which is prone to clots due to microgravity, as well as other bodily systems. —Alex Knapp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

There were also punctures on the outer table of the skull; perforation of the jugular vein, heart, lung, and pulmonary blood vessels; hemorrhage into the chest cavities; wounds extending into the bones of the right hand; and scrapes and bruises on the face, torso and extremities. —Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026

An incident in which an astronaut experienced a case of jugular venous thrombosis, a dangerous condition in which a blood clot can form in a person’s jugular vein, was also revealed in an academic journal. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026

In at least one case, pharmaceutical stocks aboard the ISS had to be rationed when an astronaut experienced a blood clot in his or her jugular vein. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jugular vein

• cyclopropane
• isobutane
• legerdemain
• nitromethane
• ultramontane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane

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