A high accumulation of minerals in human internal jugular vein

To elucidate age-related changes of mineral contents in human veins, the relative contents (RCs) of elements in the human internal jugular veins, superior and inferior venae cavae, and femoral veins from 27 subjects ranging from 40 to 98 yr old were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The average RCs of calcium in the 27 specimens were the highest in the internal jugular vein, followed in descending order by the superior vena cava, femoral vein, and inferior vena cava. The RCs of calcium and phosphorus in the internal jugular veins started to increase after the age of 50 yr, became the highest in subjects in their 60s and thereafter decreased gradually. It is noted that such accumulations of minerals, similar to the internal jugular vein, were also found in the veins, such as the superior and inferior venae cavae, and femoral vein. Accumulation of minerals in the veins is different from that of arteries, which increase progressively by aging, but do not decrease.