vena cava

American  

[vee-nuh key-vuh] / ˈvi nə ˈkeɪ və /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

venae cavae

1. either of two large veins discharging blood into the right atrium of the heart, one superior vena cava, or precava conveying blood from the head, chest, and upper extremities and the other inferior vena cava or postcava conveying blood from all parts below the diaphragm.

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vena cava British  

/ ˈkeɪvə /

noun

1. either one of the two large veins that convey oxygen-depleted blood to the heart

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vena cava Scientific  

/ vē′nəkā′və /

plural

venae cavae

1. Either of two large veins that carry blood with low levels of oxygen to the right atrium of the heart.

2. ◆ The superior vena cava receives blood from the brain and upper limbs or forelimbs.

3. ◆ The inferior vena cava drains blood from the trunk and lower limbs or hindlimbs and is the largest vein in the body.

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Etymology

Origin of vena cava

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin vēna cava, literally “hollow vein”

Example Sentences

Seven years earlier, the man had a CT scan that showed an almost total blockage of his vena cava.

From New York Times

I had a filter installed into my vena cava so that the clot wouldn't move.

From Salon

At that stage, the uterus is large enough to put pressure on the inferior vena cava, which is one of the major blood vessels that return blood flow to the heart.

From Washington Post

These drain into the inferior vena cava, which is a direct line to the heart.

From New York Times

And there are these little fragile blood vessels in the buttock area that are directly connected to the main vein going back to the heart called the vena cava.

From Fox News