The occipital vein is a superficial vein of the posterior scalp. It accompanies the occipital artery and drains blood from the skin and muscles of the occipital region. Pro Feature - 3D Model You've Discovered a Pro Feature Access our 3D Model Library Explore, cut, dissect, annotate and manipulate our 3D models to visualise anatomy in a dynamic, interactive way. Learn More Course The occipital vein arises from a venous plexus on the posterior aspect of the scalp. It pierces the cranial attachment of the trapezius muscle and then continues deep to the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, accompanying the occipital artery. It then traverses the suboccipital triangle, where it contributes to the suboccipital venous plexus. From here, its termination is variable – most commonly entering the internal jugular vein, though it may also reach the external jugular vein indirectly via the posterior auricular vein. By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2025) Fig 1Origin and proximal course of the occipital vein. Drainage The occipital vein drains the posterior scalp and adjacent muscles, including the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid. It also communicates with intracranial venous sinuses through emissary veins. The most important of these is the occipital emissary vein, which connects the occipital vein to the transverse sinus, confluence of sinuses, or superior sagittal sinus. This provides a potential pathway for infection to spread from the scalp to the intracranial venous sinuses. Rate This Article