18.7: Branches of the Vena Cavae

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Page ID: 53794

Rosanna Hartline
West Hills College Lemoore

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Branches of the Vena Cavae

The superior and inferior vena cavae receive all of the blood returning from the systemic circuit. The superior vena cava collects deoxygenated blood from the upper limbs from the right and left subclavian veins and from the head from the right and left internal and external jugular veins. Additionally, the anterior intercostal veins drain into the right and left brachiocephalic veins that both merge into the superior vena cava. The azygous vein collects blood from the posterior intercostal veins and drains directly into the superior vena cava.

Above: Diagram of the veins draining blood into the superior vena cava.

$Major veins of the trunk including Superior vena cava Mediastinal Esophageal Internal thoracic Azygos Hepatic Renal Gonadal Lumbar Common iliac Internal iliac External iliac Vertebral Internal jugular External jugular Subclavian Brachiocephalic Axillary Cephalic Hemiazygos Inte rcostal Inferior vena cava Phrenic Adrenal$

Above: Veins of the trunk.

The inferior vena cava collects blood from the lower limbs and pelvic organs by way of the right and left common iliac veins. Lumbar veins, gonadal veins, renal veins, adrenal veins, and phrenic veins carry blood to the inferior vena cava from the posterior body wall, reproductive organs, kidneys, adrenal glands, and diaphragm respectively. Hepatic veins pool blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava.

Above: Diagram of the veins draining blood into the inferior vena cava.

The splenic vein, inferior mesenteric vein, superior mesenteric vein, and left gastric vein do not directly bring blood to the inferior vena cava. First, all these veins drain into the hepatic portal vein, a large vein carrying blood from the digestive tract to the liver. If food is being digested in the digestive tract, the blood in the hepatic portal vein will carry nutrients from food as well as any toxins ingested (e.g. ethanol aka drinking alcohol), and wastes from the tissues where the blood was carried from. The liver adjusts the content of the blood to maintain constant blood-glucose levels as well as balance other nutrient components in the blood (e.g. amino acids and fatty acids). Additionally, this pit-stop in the liver allows the liver to detoxify blood passing through it before draining into the inferior vena cava through the hepatic veins.

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