Superior vena cava

Superior vena cava
The superior vena cava drains from the left and right brachiocephalic veins into the right atrium
Details
PrecursorCommon cardinal veins
Drains fromLeft and right brachiocephalic veins
SourceBrachiocephalic vein, azygos vein
Drains toRight atrium
Identifiers
Latinvena cava superior, vena maxima
MeSHD014683
TA98A12.3.03.001
TA24745
FMA4720
Anatomical terminology

The superior vena cava (SVC) is the superior of the two venae cavae, the great venous trunks that return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium of the heart. It is a large-diameter (24 mm) short length vein that receives venous return from the upper half of the body, above the diaphragm. Venous return from the lower half, below the diaphragm, flows through the inferior vena cava. The SVC is located in the anterior right superior mediastinum.[1] It is the typical site of central venous access via a central venous catheter or a peripherally inserted central catheter. Mentions of "the cava" without further specification usually refer to the SVC.[citation needed]

  1. ^ "General Practice Notebook". www.gpnotebook.co.uk. Retrieved April 6, 2018.