Superior vena cava

WikiDoc Resources for Superior vena cava
Articles
Most recent articles on Superior vena cava Most cited articles on Superior vena cava Review articles on Superior vena cava Articles on Superior vena cava in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Superior vena cava Images of Superior vena cava Photos of Superior vena cava Podcasts & MP3s on Superior vena cava Videos on Superior vena cava
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Superior vena cava Bandolier on Superior vena cava TRIP on Superior vena cava
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Superior vena cava at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Superior vena cava Clinical Trials on Superior vena cava at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Superior vena cava NICE Guidance on Superior vena cava NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Superior vena cava CDC on Superior vena cava
Books
Books on Superior vena cava
News
Superior vena cava in the news Be alerted to news on Superior vena cava News trends on Superior vena cava
Commentary
Blogs on Superior vena cava
Definitions
Definitions of Superior vena cava
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Superior vena cava Discussion groups on Superior vena cava Patient Handouts on Superior vena cava Directions to Hospitals Treating Superior vena cava Risk calculators and risk factors for Superior vena cava
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Superior vena cava Causes & Risk Factors for Superior vena cava Diagnostic studies for Superior vena cava Treatment of Superior vena cava
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Superior vena cava
International
Superior vena cava en Espanol Superior vena cava en Francais
Business
Superior vena cava in the Marketplace Patents on Superior vena cava
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Superior vena cava

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

The superior vena cava is a large, yet short vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the heart's right atrium.

It is formed by the left and right brachiocephalic veins, (also referred to as the innominate veins) which receive blood from the upper limbs and the head and neck, behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage. The azygous vein (which receives blood from the rib cage) joins it just before it enters the right atrium, at the upper right front portion of the heart.

In the adult, no valve separates the superior vena cava from the right atrium. As a result, the (right) atrial and (right) ventricular contractions are conducted up into the internal jugular vein and, through the sternocleidomastoid muscle, can be seen as the jugular venous pressure. In tricuspid valve regurgitation, these pulsations are very strong.

Additional images

• 

  Diagram showing completion of development of the parietal veins.

• 

  Front view of heart and lungs.

• 

  Heart seen from above.

• 

  Transverse section of thorax, showing relations of pulmonary artery.

• 

  The arch of the aorta, and its branches.

• 

  The brachiocephalic veins, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries

• 

  The thymus of a full-time fetus, exposed in situ.

See also

• Persistent left superior vena cava
• Superior vena cava syndrome

Template:Veins
eu:Goiko kaba it:Vena cava superiore nl:Vena cava superior sk:Horná dutá žila sr:Горња шупља вена fi:Yläonttolaskimo