The external jugular vein is forming within the parotid gland in the height of the jaw angle and comes from smaller tributaries, like the posterior auricular vein. It is located between the platysma muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle and goes caudal to the middle of the clavicle.There it perforates the deep fascia in the neck area and ends in the subclavian vein anterior or lateral of the scalenus anterior.In the cranial part of its course the external jugular vein runs parallel to the great auricular nerve. About 4cm above the clavicle one can often find an extension of the vein which is also known as sinus. It contains venous valves.