vena cava

American  

[vee-nuh key-vuh] / ˈvi nə ˈkeɪ və /

noun

Anatomy.

venae cavae plural

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 /

venae cavae plural

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• venae cavae
  plural

Etymology

Origin of vena cava

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

Example Sentences

Was it possible that the extra blood that was supposed to go from the legs to the brain when the man stood up didn’t get there fast enough because of the narrowed vena cava?

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2022

Next Parkhurst inserted tiny balloons that he inflated to reopen the threadlike stream through the narrowed vena cava.

From New York Times • Nov. 30, 2022

They end with the exiting of the renal veins to join the inferior vena cava.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

It combines with the two large left and right brachiocephalic veins to form the superior vena cava.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

He observed, too, the canal which passes in the fœtus between the umbilical vein and vena cava, and which has since been known as the ductus venosus.

From Fathers of Biology by McRae, Charles