Inferior vena cava

Inferior vena cava
Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries
Details
Source	common iliac vein lumbar veins testicular vein renal vein suprarenal vein hepatic vein
Drains to	right atrium
Artery	abdominal aorta
Identifiers
Latin	vena cava inferior
MeSH	A07.231.908.949.648
TA	A12.3.09.001
FMA	10951
Anatomical terminology []

The inferior vena cava (or IVC) (Latin: vena, "vein", cavus, "hollow") is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the 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.

The inferior vena cava is the lower ("inferior") of the two venae cavae, the two large veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body: 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.

It is a large retroperitoneal vein that lies posterior to the abdominal cavity and runs along the right side of the vertebral column. It enters the right atrium at the lower right, back side of the heart.

The inferior vena cava is formed by the joining of the left and right common iliac veins and brings collected blood into the right atrium of the heart. 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 abdomen unite, at about the level of L5. It passes through the thoracic diaphragm at the caval opening at the level of T8.