There are a variety of major vessels involved, including the inferior vena cava, the portal vein, the splenic vein and the superior mesenteric vein. Rajabnejad Y, Aliakbarian M, Rajabnejad A, Motie MR. Left-Sided Inferior Vena Cava Encountered During Organ Retrieval Surgery: Report of Two Cases. It enters separately form the superior vena cava, which is here. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. The inferior vena cava is formed by the confluence of the two common iliac veins at the L5 vertebral level. This system drains the thoracic wall and upper lumbar area of blood. Here’s the inferior vena cave. The union of left and right common iliac veins in front of the body of L5 vertebra, below the aortic bifurcation, and behind the right common iliac artery form the IVC. Human anatomy of vasculature of the torso, frontal sub-diaphragm view. The valve of the inferior vena cava is a rudimentary fold present at the anteroinferior margin of the IVC orifice within the right atrium. The below infographic summarizes the difference between superior and inferior vena cava comparatively. Read our, Medically reviewed by Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, Medically reviewed by Douglas A. Nelson, MD, Internal Jugular Vein: Anatomy, Function, and Significance, External Jugular Vein: Anatomy, Function, and Significance. Quick Anatomy . It runs alongside the abdominal aorta, but there are several important differences between their branches and tributaries which make perfect fodder for trick questions in exams! Here’s the inferior vena cave. The IVC is formed by the merging of the right and left common iliac veins. The IVC’s job is to drain all the blood from the lower half of the body including the feet, legs, thighs, pelvis, and abdomen. "The eustachian valve is an embryologic remnant of the valve of the inferior vena cava." The IVC ascends from the front of the vertebral column on the right side of the aorta. Inferior Vena Cava. We think this is the most useful anatomy picture that you need. A few veins merge and drain into the IVC before it makes its way up to the heart, including the left renal vein. Inferior vena cava filter-associated abnormalities: MDCT findings. It is formed by the union of the common iliac veins at the level of the body of L5. It also joins with the azygos vein and venous plexuses next to the spinal cord. Geehan DM, Inferior Vena Caval Thrombosis, emedicine.com, URL: "CHAPTER 2 - Venous Embryology and Anatomy", "Chapter 154 - Disc Replacement Technologies in the Cervical and Lumbar Spine", "Chapter 2 - Surgical and radiologic anatomy of the liver, biliary tract, and pancreas", "Giant Eustachian Valve: with Echocardiographic Appearance of Divided Right Atrium", "Chapter 30 - Inferior Vena Cava Filters", http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2718.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inferior_vena_cava&oldid=990068423, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, Anatomy NAV infobox with use of other NAV parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 22 November 2020, at 16:52. Rony Kampalath, MD, is board-certified in diagnostic radiology and previously worked as a primary care physician. Inferior vena cava is a large retroperitoneal blood vessel formed by the confluence of the right and left common iliac veins (usually occurs at the L5 vertebral level) that is responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the body regions inferior to the diaphragm (lower extremities and abdomen) back to the right atrium of your heart. Kim SS, Shin HC, Hwang JA, et al. The superior vena cava is located in the upper chest region and is formed by the joining of the brachiocephalic veins. Inferior vena cava anomalies and variations: imaging and rare clinical findings. You can click the image to magnify if you cannot see clearly. The purpose of this article is to increase Tucker, William D. Burns, Bracken. Radiologyinfo.org website. The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the main conduit of venous return to the right atrium from the lower extremities and abdominal viscera. Unlike the superior vena cava,… Read More; function in cardiovascular system 2014 Nov. 27 (8):1234-43. . Objectives At the end of this presentation you will be able to: Describe the anatomy & physiology of the IVC Understand the pathologic conditions & anatomic variants of the Inferior Vena Cava Identify and discuss the Theory of Virchow’s Triad Define Inferior Vena Cava filter placement and uses Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava and left renal vein: implications during open abdominal aortic aneurysm reconstruction. The left adrenal and left gonadal veins go into the renal vein before all shifting to the IVC. Introduction. Most of the SVC lies on the anterior and right side of the superior mediastinum. The inferior vena cava is formed at the point of union of the right and left common iliac veins at the L5 vertebral level. Gastroenterology 1982; 82: 171–178. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. The superior vena cava contains venous blood from the head, neck, both upper limbs and from structures within the thorax. The last, extremely rare, variation is called absent infrarenal IVC. [1] It enters the right auricle at the lower right, back side of the heart. The IVC, a single right-sided vessel in 97% of individuals, returns blood from all structures below the diaphragm to the right atrium of the heart. Inferior Vena Cava. [7], Blockage of the inferior vena cava is rare and is treated urgently as a life-threatening condition. Various congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava: review of cross-sectional imaging findings and report of a new variant. - inferior vena cava stock illustrations High Resolution Three-Dimensional Image Displays A Human Liver , Veins, The Inferior Vena Cava , Esophagus, Stomach , And The Small Intestine . The inferior vena cava is formed by the coming together of the two major veins from the legs, the common iliac veins, at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra, just below the small of the back. Although the vena cava is very large in diameter, its walls are incredibly thin … Although the vena cava is very large in diameter, its walls are incredibly thin due to the low pressure exerted by venous blood. It is formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins – which provide venous drainage of the head, neck, and upper limbs. The inferior vena cava (IVC) runs on the right of the aorta, on the bodies of the lumbar vertebrae, diverging from it as it passes upward. It passes through the thoracic diaphragm at the caval opening at the level of T8. The inferior vena cava is the result of two major leg veins coming together. Inferior Vena Cava Disorders By: Hollie Peterson 2. To see the inferior vena cava, we’ll move the diaphragm downward, and move the heart to the left. The inferior vena cava runs along the vertebral bodies in the spine, and is formed by the joining of two leg veins in the lower body which … Innerbody website. These leg veins are called iliac veins. It then ascends the posterior abdominal wall, to the right side of the aorta and the bodies of the L3-L5 vertebrae. Unlike the superior vena cava, it has a substantial number of tributaries between its … We think this is the most useful anatomy picture that you need. Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava and hepatocellular carcinoma in South Africa. It enters separately form the superior vena cava, which is here. The inferior vena cava arises from the confluence of the common iliac veins at the level of L5 vertebra, just inferior to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta. The specific levels of the tributaries are as follows: Because the inferior vena cava is located to the right of the midline, drainage of the tributaries is not always symmetrical. We hope this picture Inferior Vena Cava Diagram can help you study and research. Reference: 1. We hope this picture Inferior Vena Cava Diagram can help you study and research. “Inferior Vena Cava – Anatomy Pictures and Information.” InnerBody, Available … Compression of the inferior vena cava by right renal cysts: an unusual cause of IVC and/or iliofemoral thrombosis with pulmonary embolism in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. An IVC filter is commonly used in patients that aren’t responding to medication for blood clots such as blood thinners. The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body. In this article we shall consider the anatomy of the abdominal veins - their anatomical course, tributaries and clinical correlations. In transposition of the great arteries the inferior vena cava may lie on the left. Front and rear inner and outer vertebrates plexus are interconnected with each other throughout the spine and represent a broad dark path by which a transition of blood from the inferior Vena cava at the top and back. The clinical anatomy of the inferior vena cava: a review of common congenital anomalies and considerations for clinicians. 2014 Nov. 27 (8):1234-43. . The inferior vena cava is the lower ("inferior") of the two venae cavae, the two large veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart: the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower half of the body whilst the superior vena cava carries blood from the upper half of the body. Anatomically this usually occurs at the L5 vertebral level. for more anatomy content please follow us and visit our website: www.anatomynote.com. To prevent the blood from moving back into the body, valves made up of tissue in the vein close as the blood through it. The IVC lies along the right anterolateral aspect of the vertebral column and passes through the central tendon of the diaphragm around the T8 vertebral level. The inferior vena cava (IVC) begins at the confluence of the common iliac veins and ascends on the right side of the vertebral column, passes through the tendinous portion of the diaphragm, and after a short course (approximately 2.5 cm) in the chest it terminates in the right atrium at the level of T9. The inferior vena cava (also known as IVC or the posterior vena cava) is a large vein that carries blood from the torso and lower body to the right side of the heart. The inferior vena cava runs posterior in the body, behind the heart and into the abdominal cavity, with many branches throughout the entire body that take deoxygenated blood away from the cells so that they can carry out the processes needed to keep the body alive. Together, the venae cavae (in addition to the coronary sinus, which carries blood from the muscle of the heart itself) form the venous counterparts of the aorta. The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a large retroperitoneal vessel formed by the confluence of the right and left common iliac veins. Instead of valves, the pressure from breathing and the contraction of the diaphragm as the lungs fill with air helps to pull the blood forward from the IVC all the way up to the heart. Ⓒ 2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved. In rare cases, straining associated with defecation can lead to restricted blood flow through the IVC and result in syncope (fainting). Congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava and left renal vein: implications during open abdominal aortic aneurysm reconstruction. It is a large retroperitoneal vein that lies posterior to the abdominal cavity and runs along the right side of the vertebral column. I hope you find this … An IVC filter stops blood clots that form in the veins of the lower half of the body, or someone who suffers from deep vein thrombosis, from having those clots reach the lungs.. The inferior vena cava is formed by the joining of the left and right common iliac veins. The IVC has a retroperitoneal course within the abdominal cavity. Compression of the inferior vena cava by right renal cysts: an unusual cause of IVC and/or iliofemoral thrombosis with pulmonary embolism in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Other variations may include azygous continuation of the IVC, where blood coming from the lower body drains into a different venous system called the azygous system. The inferior vena cava is formed by the joining of the common iliac veins which meet a little below the small of the back. In brief, superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are two veins that bring deoxygenated blood to the heart. What makes the IVC different from other veins is that there are no valves within the vein to keep blood moving forward instead of backward, which is how the typical anatomy of a vein works. Roberto Iezzi, Alessandro Posa, Francesca Carchesio, Riccardo Manfredi, Multidetector-row CT imaging evaluation of superior and inferior vena cava normal anatomy and caval variants: Report of our cases and literature review with embryologic correlation, Phlebology: The Journal of Venous Disease, 10.1177/0268355518774964, 34, 2, (77-87), (2018). Updated April 2018. It runs along the right side of the vertebral column with the aorta lying laterally on the left. The anatomy of the inferior vena cava can be seen in the picture below. It can be a source of critical information for referring clinicians, and recognition of IVC variants and pathologic characteristics can help guide patient treatment.  variation is a large retroperitoneal vessel formed by the joining of the heart to the right side of right. The descending aorta. [ 3 ] hollow '' shall consider the anatomy the... Hc, Hwang JA, et al up for our Health Tip of abdomen! 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