Antecubital Fossa

 H and M pattern
 H shaped Antecubital veins- 70% of the population have this pattern
 Median Cubital vein-near the center of the antecubital fossa, preferred vein for venipuncture in H-
pattern, easiest and least painful to puncture, larger, closer to the surface, better anchored, more
stationary.
 Inserting needle- must be parallel
 Cephalic Vein- Thumb site
 Located in the lateral aspect of the antecubital fossa
 Second choice for venipuncture
 Fairly well anchored
 Often the vein palpated in obese patients
 Basilic vein-pinky side
 Large vein located in the medial aspect of antecubital area
 Last choice for venipuncture in either venous pattern, may hit medial cutaneous nerve and brachial
artery
 Easy to palpate
 M-shaped antecubital veins
 MEDIAN VEINS or Intermediate antebrachial vein, first choice
 Median cephalic vein/ Intermediate cephalic vein
 Median basilic vein

THE BLOOD

 In-vivo- liquid portion of blood is called plasma, non-coagulated blood

 Blood-mixture of fluid and cells
 5 times thicker than water
 Slightly alkaline-.35-7.45
 Plasma:
Liquid portion of blood