Facial vein

The facial vein (or anterior facial vein) is a relatively large vein in the human face.

It commences at the side of the root of the nose and is a direct continuation of the angular vein where it also receives a small nasal branch.

It lies behind the facial artery and follows a less tortuous course.

It receives blood from the external palatine vein before it either joins the anterior branch of the retromandibular vein to form the common facial vein, or drains directly into the internal jugular vein.

A common misconception states that the facial vein has no valves, but this has been contradicted by recent studies.Its walls are not so flaccid as most superficial veins.