Inferior vena cava

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Vein: Inferior vena cava

Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries.
Latin	vena cava inferior
Gray's	subject #173 677
Drains from	common iliac vein lumbar veins testicular vein renal vein suprarenal vein hepatic vein
Drains to	heart
MeSH	A07.231.908.949.648

The inferior vena cava (or IVC) is the large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the heart. It is formed by the joining of the left and right common iliac veins and brings blood into the right atrium of the heart. It also anastomoses with the azygos vein system (which runs on the right side of the vertebral column) and the venous plexuses next to the spinal cord. The IVC is posterior to the abdominal cavity and runs along side of the vertebral column on its right side (i.e. it is a retroperitoneal structure). It enters the right atrium at the lower right, back side of the heart.

Note that the vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the upper half of the body is the superior vena cava.

1 Pathologies associated with the IVC
2 Embryology
3 Additional images
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Pathologies associated with the IVC

Health problems attributed to the IVC are most often associated with it being compressed (ruptures are rare because it has a low intraluminal pressure). Typical sources of external pressure are an enlarged aorta (abdominal aortic aneurysm), a fetus (pregnancy) and abdominal maligancies, such as colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer. Since the inferior vena cava is primarily a right-sided structure, unconscious pregnant females should be turned on to their left side (the recovery position), to relieve pressure on it and facilitate venous return. In rare cases, straining associated with defecation can lead to restricted blood flow through the IVC and result in syncope (fainting).<ref>Brophy CM, Evans L, Sumpio BE. Defecation syncope secondary to functional inferior vena caval obstruction during a Valsalva maneuver. Ann Vasc Surg. 1993 Jul;7(4):374-7. PMID 8268080.</ref>

Occlusion of the IVC is rare, but considered life-threatening and is an emergency. It is associated with deep vein thrombosis, IVC filters, liver transplantation and instrumentation (e.g. catheter in the femoral vein).<ref>Geehan DM, Inferior Vena Caval Thrombosis, emedicine.com, URL: http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2718.htm, Accessed: August 3, 2005.</ref>

[edit] Embryology

In the embryo, the IVC and right atrium are separated by the Eustachian valve, also known in Latin as the valvula venae cavae inferiore (valve of the inferior vena cava). In the adult, this structure typically has totally regressed or remains as a small endocardial fold.<ref>Yavuz T, Nazli C, Kinay O, Kutsal A. Giant eustachian valve with echocardiographic appearance of divided right atrium. Tex Heart Inst J. 2002;29(4):336-8. PMID 12484622 Full Text.</ref>

[edit] Additional images

Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.

The arch of the aorta, and its branches.

Transverse section of human embryo eight and a half to nine weeks old.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

synd/1462 at Who Named It - "Eustachian valve"
SUNY Labs 40:13-0101 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: Tributaries to the Inferior Vena Cava"
SUNY Anatomy Image 8827
Cross section at UV pembody/body12a

v • d • e</span> Cardiovascular system
Blood \| Heart → Aorta → Arteries → Arterioles → Capillaries → Venules → Veins → Vena cava → Heart → Pulmonary arteries → Lungs → Pulmonary veins → Heart