Abduct the cadaver's upper extremity to expose the axillary region and to give yourself access to the structures you will need to identify. Try and get an overview of the entire upper extremity. If the cadaver is willing, supinate and pronate the forearm. Identify the styloid process of both the radius and ulna, the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the hand and the medial and lateral epicondyles of the humerus. By slightly flexing and extending the forearm, see if you can find the olecranon process.

Now see if you can trace the three important superficial veins of the upper extremity. Remember, the venous system is incredibly variable. What is presented here merely represents an "average" pattern. Two of these veins begin on the dorsum of the hand, but soon spiral around the forearm, and run to the anterior side of the forearm.

The cephalic vein ascends the entire upper limb, running on the anterior and lateral, or radial side of the forearm, and on the lateral side of the arm. This vein runs right in between the distal end of the pectoralis major and the distal end of the anterior deltoid. It then dives deep to empty into the axillary vein.

The basilic vein ascends the forearm on the medial or ulnar side and is only visible in the forearm. In the arm it takes a deep path, medial to the biceps. Near the inferior edge of the teres major it joins the deep brachial veins thus forming the axillary vein. On the anterior surface of the elbow, a region known as the cubital fossa, the basilic and cephalic veins are connected by a short median cubital vein. This vein is frequently used as the site of blood withdrawal for diagnostic testing and blood donation.