Why do we get blood taken mainly in the ditches of our arms?
In: 10
Because that’s the most easily accessible place (as opposed to, say, the crotch) that has nice thick veins good for drawing blood, that aren’t dangerous to pierce, like the arteries in your neck for example.
And I don’t know how true that is, as I don’t have the personal experience, but it seems like it’d be the least painful/uncomfortable.
Pretty much anywhere on the mid to lower arms is fine.
The inner elbow is a good spot because the veins tend to be positioned such that they won’t roll (unlike those on the hand), but not so deep they’re hard to access. They’re large and easy to hit.
There aren’t other structures around that present particularly high risk or prevent the ability to feel the vein.
It’s also not a sensitive area and typically heals easily without inhibiting tasks.
Source: certified phlebotomist, but never got a job in the field
There is a good vein that’s easy to get to and nice and big. In the hospital they might also take it out of your hand. Your legs would be difficult to deal with, neck is too vulnerable/sensitive.
So where do they take blood from in people without any arms?
A couple of reasons:
1. Consistent anatomy between patients. Most patients will have pretty much the same anatomy with the major veins their. The basilic, brachial, cephalic and median cubical veins are in very similar positions on most people where’s other veins are much more varied between people.
In people with very difficult veins you can even sometimes just get lucky even if you can’t see or feel it just based on the consistency of the anatomy.
2. They’re close to the skin and wide.
3. It’s hard to hit an artery as they’re generally quite deep in the arm away from the veins
4. Hurts less than other places. I’ve had to take it from feet before and I was very unpopular afterwards.
5. Easily accessible.
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