Inferior vena cava

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inferior vena cava
Right ventricleLeft ventricleAortic valveMitral valveLeft atriumRight atriumAortaPulmonary valveTricuspid valveInferior vena cavaSuperior vena cavaPulmonary arteryPulmonary vein
Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate valid blood flow.
Right atrium
Arteryabdominal aorta
Identifiers
Latinvena cava inferior
Acronym(s)IVC
MeSHD014682
TA98A12.3.09.001
TA24991
FMA10951
Anatomical terminology]

The inferior vena cava is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated

right atrium of the heart. It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra.[1][2]

The inferior vena cava is the lower ("inferior") of the two venae cavae, the two large veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart: the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower half of the body whilst the superior vena cava carries blood from the upper half of the body. Together, the venae cavae (in addition to the coronary sinus, which carries blood from the muscle of the heart itself) form the venous counterparts of the aorta.

It is a large

Latin
: vena, "vein", cavus, "hollow".

Structure

The IVC is formed by the joining of the left and right

right atrium of the heart.[1] It also joins with the azygos vein (which runs on the right side of the vertebral column) and venous plexuses next to the spinal cord
.

The inferior vena cava begins as the left and right common iliac veins behind the

T8 - T9.[1][3] It passes to the right of the descending aorta.[3]

Tributaries

The specific levels of the tributaries are as follows:

Level Vein
T8 hepatic veins, inferior phrenic vein
L1 right
renal veins
L2 right gonadal vein
L1–L5 lumbar veins
L5
common iliac veins

Because the inferior vena cava is located to the right of the midline, drainage of the tributaries is not always symmetrical. On the right, the

suprarenal veins drain into the inferior vena cava directly.[1] On the left, they drain into the renal vein which in turn drains into the inferior vena cava.[1] By contrast, all the lumbar veins and hepatic veins usually drain directly into the inferior vena cava.[1]

Development

In the

valve of the inferior vena cava, also known as the Eustachian valve. In the adult, this valve typically has totally regressed or remains as a small fold of endocardium.[4]

Variation

Rarely, the inferior vena cava may vary in its size and position. In

transposition of the great arteries
the inferior vena cava may lie on the left.

In between 0.2% to 0.3% of people,[5] the inferior vena cava may be duplicated beneath the level of the renal veins.[6]

Function

The inferior vena cava is a

right atrium of the heart.[6]

The corresponding vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body is the superior vena cava.

Clinical significance

Health problems attributed to the IVC are most often associated with it being compressed (ruptures are rare because it has a low

syncope (fainting).[7]

Blockage of the inferior vena cava is rare and is treated urgently as a life-threatening condition. It is associated with

surgical procedures such as the insertion of a catheter in the femoral vein in the groin.[8]

Branches of Inferior Vena Cava

Trauma to the vena cava is usually fatal as unstoppable excessive blood loss occurs.

Additional images

  • Inferior vena cava
    Inferior vena cava
  • Inferior vena cava front view
    Inferior vena cava front view
  • Image of an inferior vena cava filter
    Image of an inferior vena cava filter
  • Image showing an inferior vena cava filter in its position
    Image showing an inferior vena cava filter in its position

See also

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-12-369515-4
    , retrieved November 22, 2020
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4160-6839-6
    , retrieved November 22, 2020
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-323-34062-5
    , retrieved November 22, 2020
  4. PMID 12484622
    .
  5. ISBN 978-0-323-06794-2
    , retrieved November 22, 2020
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8089-2371-8
    .
  7. S2CID 42135883
    .
  8. ^ Geehan DM, Inferior Vena Caval Thrombosis, emedicine.com, URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2718.htm, Accessed: August 3, 2005.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inferior_vena_cava&oldid=1218234184"