vena cava

[ vee-nuh key-vuh ]

noun

, Anatomy.

, plural ve·nae ca·vae [vee, -nee , key, -vee].

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.

vena cava

/ ˈkeɪvə /

noun

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

vena cava

/ vē′nəkā′və /

, Plural venae cavae vē′nēkā′vē

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vena cava¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of vena cava¹

Latin: hollow vein

Example Sentences

Downtown darling Vena Cava showed off a structured collection, full of modern lines and alluring glimpses of skin.

From The Daily Beast

By this passage it is taken into the right auricle, along with the impure blood of the vena cava.

From Project Gutenberg

Ligature of the inferior vena cava above the diaphragm also leads to a large increase in the flow of duct lymph.

From Project Gutenberg

They therefore do not act like sieves, filtering fluid sent to them by the vena cava, and themselves contributing no force.

From Project Gutenberg

Eodem tempore tactu sentitur pulsus Arteriae quasi attrahitur vena cava.

From Project Gutenberg

The venae hepaticae magnae join the vena cava posterior and thereby form with it the vena cava inferior.

From Project Gutenberg