vena cava
/ˌviːnə ˈkeɪvə
/noun (plural venae cavae /ˌviːniː ˈkeɪviː/)
A large vein carrying deoxygenated blood into the heart. There are two in humans, the inferior vena cava (carrying blood from the lower body) and the superior vena cava (carrying blood from the head, arms, and upper body).The liver lesion, 4 cm in diameter, was deemed unresectable at that time as it was too close to the vena cava....
- The right superior vena cava is also draining into the left atrium as well as the pulmonary veins.
- Oxygenated blood flows through the arterial system to the organs, and deoxygenated blood returns to the right atrium through the superior and inferior vena cava.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin, literally 'hollow vein'.