Which pair of veins unite to form the brachiocephalic vein?

• A. Internal jugular and external jugular
• B. Azygos vein and hepatic veins
• C. Subclavian and internal jugular
• D. External jugular and subclavian

Answer: (C)

The brachiocephalic veins are formed by the union of the internal jugular vein with the subclavian vein on each side. The internal jugular drains the head, face, and neck, while the subclavian drains the upper limb and superficial thoracic wall; their merger behind the sternoclavicular joint creates the brachiocephalic vein. The left and right brachiocephalic veins then join to form the superior vena cava. The other options don’t form the brachiocephalic vein because the external jugular drains superficially into the subclavian or internal jugular, and the azygos and hepatic veins drain into different parts of the venous system.