A central line is a long plastic tube that goes into a large vein near the heart. There are many different makes of central lines. These tubes can be used for taking blood samples and giving drugs, including chemotherapy or biological therapies. The tube comes out of the body at the side of the neck, or from the chest. Injections can be given into the tube, or drips attached to it. In other types of central lines called ports a small chamber or reservoir is at the end of the tube under the skin in the chest. A needle goes into the chamber to give injections or attach drips.