The external jugular vein commences in the substance of the parotid gland, on a level with the angle of the mandible, and runs perpendicularly down the neck, in the direction of a line drawn from the angle of the mandible to the middle of the clavicle superficial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

It is separated from the sternocleidomastoid muscle by the investing layer of the deep cervical fascia, and is covered by the platysma, the superficial fascia, and the integument; it crosses the cutaneous cervical nerve, and its upper half runs parallel with the great auricular nerve.

[4] It is commonly used in cardiac arrest or other situations where the patient is unresponsive due to the pain associated with the procedure.

[citation needed] During a cardiac arrest, using this vein has the advantage of allowing the paramedic to stay at the head and intubate the patient as well.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 646 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)