Inferiorly, near the medial attachment of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, each anterior jugular vein pierces the investing layer of cervical fascia to enter the subclavian vein. Occasionally, the anterior jugular vein may enter the external jugular vein immediately before the external jugular vein enters the subclavian vein.
Often, the right and left anterior jugular veins communicate with each other, being connected by a jugular venous arch in the area of the suprasternal notch.