The deep cervical vein arises in the suboccipital triangle from tributaries of the occipital veins, local muscles and suboccipital plexuses around the cervical spinous processes.  It accompanies its fellow artery between semispinalis capitis and cervicis and descends vertically passing anteriorly between the transverse process of the seventh cervical vertebra and the neck of the first rib.  It terminates by draining into the lower part of the vertebral or brachiocephalic veins.