Definition

1. Noun:
   • A major superficial vein of the upper limb: The basilic vein is a large, visible vein that runs along the inner (medial) side of the arm. It drains blood from the back of the hand and the forearm, and it ultimately connects to the axillary vein in the armpit region.

Usage

• The basilic vein is commonly used for venipuncture (drawing blood) or for inserting intravenous (IV) lines, especially when other veins are not accessible.
• In medical examinations, the path and condition of the basilic vein are often checked.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The phlebotomist successfully drew blood from the patient's basilic vein.
  • After the injury, a thrombus formed in his basilic vein.
  • The basilic vein becomes the axillary vein after it passes the lower border of the teres major muscle.

Advanced Usage

• "To cannulate the basilic vein": To insert a cannula (a thin tube) into this vein for medical purposes.
  • Due to the patient's dehydrated state, the nurse had to cannulate the basilic vein.

Variants and Related Words

• Axillary vein (n): The larger vein in the armpit into which the basilic vein drains.
• Cephalic vein (n): Another major superficial vein of the arm, running on the outer (lateral) side, often contrasted with the basilic vein.
• Venipuncture (n): The practice of drawing blood from a vein, for which the basilic vein is sometimes a site.

Synonyms

• Vena basilica: The full Latin anatomical term.

Notes

• The basilic vein is part of the superficial venous system of the upper limb. It is not typically involved in idioms or phrasal verbs, as it is a specific anatomical term.

Noun

1. a vein that drains the back of the hand and forearm and empties into the axillary vein