The Inferior Vena Cava
Topography of Inferior Vena Cava
- At the level of the L5, the right and left common iliac veins, forming the inferior vena
cava.
- Largest vein of the human body.
- Collects blood from the lower half of the bod, below the diaphragm.
- No valves.
- Runs on the right side of the vertebral column.
- Lies on the right side of the abdominal aorta.
- Forms the right sagittal groove on the posterior surface of the liver.
- Goes through the diaphragm through the caval opening, together with the right
-
phrenic nerve.
Tributaries of Inferior Vena Cava
Visceral Tributaries ④
- Drain organs.
Hepatic Veins
- 3 large intrahepatic veins:
1. Right Hepatic Vein
2. Intermediate Hepatic Vein
3. Left Hepatic Vein
- Drain the liver parenchyma into the inferior vena cava.
- Blood from the portal system goes into the liver to be filtered and processed then it
flows through the hepatic veins into the systemic circulation.
, Right Suprarenal Vein
- Drain the suprarenal gland into the inferior vena cava.
Left Renal Vein
- Drain the left kidney into the inferior vena cava.
- Tributaries (drain into the left renal vein):
1. Left Suprarenal Vein – drain the suprarenal gland.
2. Left Testicular Vein – drain the left testes.
3. Left Ovarian Vein – drain the left ovary.
Right Renal Vein
- Drain the right kidney into the inferior vena cava.
- Tributaries (drain into the right renal vein):
1. Right Testicular Vein – drain the right testes.
2. Right Ovarian Vein – drain the right ovary.
* The ovarian and testicular veins drain into the Pampiniform plexus, which lies on the
posterior aspect of the ovaries and the testes.
Parietal Tributaries ②
- Drain bones and muscles.
Lumbar Veins
- 4 pairs of lumbar veins, which follow the lumbar arteries (abdominal aorta).
- Communicate with the external and internal vertebral venous plexuses to drain the
spinal cord and with the ascending lumbar veins, which drain into the azygos and
the hemiazygos veins.
vein
Inferior Phrenic Veins right is part of parietal azygous
.
→
- Drain the inferior side of the diaphragm into the inferior vena cava.
Topography of Inferior Vena Cava
- At the level of the L5, the right and left common iliac veins, forming the inferior vena
cava.
- Largest vein of the human body.
- Collects blood from the lower half of the bod, below the diaphragm.
- No valves.
- Runs on the right side of the vertebral column.
- Lies on the right side of the abdominal aorta.
- Forms the right sagittal groove on the posterior surface of the liver.
- Goes through the diaphragm through the caval opening, together with the right
-
phrenic nerve.
Tributaries of Inferior Vena Cava
Visceral Tributaries ④
- Drain organs.
Hepatic Veins
- 3 large intrahepatic veins:
1. Right Hepatic Vein
2. Intermediate Hepatic Vein
3. Left Hepatic Vein
- Drain the liver parenchyma into the inferior vena cava.
- Blood from the portal system goes into the liver to be filtered and processed then it
flows through the hepatic veins into the systemic circulation.
, Right Suprarenal Vein
- Drain the suprarenal gland into the inferior vena cava.
Left Renal Vein
- Drain the left kidney into the inferior vena cava.
- Tributaries (drain into the left renal vein):
1. Left Suprarenal Vein – drain the suprarenal gland.
2. Left Testicular Vein – drain the left testes.
3. Left Ovarian Vein – drain the left ovary.
Right Renal Vein
- Drain the right kidney into the inferior vena cava.
- Tributaries (drain into the right renal vein):
1. Right Testicular Vein – drain the right testes.
2. Right Ovarian Vein – drain the right ovary.
* The ovarian and testicular veins drain into the Pampiniform plexus, which lies on the
posterior aspect of the ovaries and the testes.
Parietal Tributaries ②
- Drain bones and muscles.
Lumbar Veins
- 4 pairs of lumbar veins, which follow the lumbar arteries (abdominal aorta).
- Communicate with the external and internal vertebral venous plexuses to drain the
spinal cord and with the ascending lumbar veins, which drain into the azygos and
the hemiazygos veins.
vein
Inferior Phrenic Veins right is part of parietal azygous
.
→
- Drain the inferior side of the diaphragm into the inferior vena cava.
