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Available in 35 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-35" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">35 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AF_%D8%A3%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%81_%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%88%D9%8A" title="وريد أجوف علوي – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="وريد أجوف علوي" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuxar%C4%B1_bo%C5%9F_vena" title="Yuxarı boş vena – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Yuxarı boş vena" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn mw-list-item"><a href="https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%8A%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC_%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE" title="ঊর্ধ্ব মহাশিরা – Bangla" lang="bn" hreflang="bn" data-title="ঊর্ধ্ব মহাশিরা" data-language-autonym="বাংলা" data-language-local-name="Bangla" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>বাংলা</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Горна празна вена – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Горна празна вена" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gornja_%C5%A1uplja_vena" title="Gornja šuplja vena – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="Gornja šuplja vena" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_superior" title="Vena cava superior – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Vena cava superior" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn%C3%AD_dut%C3%A1_%C5%BE%C3%ADla" title="Horní dutá žíla – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Horní dutá žíla" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_superior" title="Vena cava superior – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Vena cava superior" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_superior" title="Vena cava superior – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Vena cava superior" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goiko_kaba_zain" title="Goiko kaba zain – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Goiko kaba zain" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D8%A7%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%81_%D9%81%D9%88%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C" title="ورید اجوف فوقانی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="ورید اجوف فوقانی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veine_cave_sup%C3%A9rieure" title="Veine cave supérieure – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Veine cave supérieure" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ga mw-list-item"><a href="https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_uachtarach" title="Vena cava uachtarach – Irish" lang="ga" hreflang="ga" data-title="Vena cava uachtarach" data-language-autonym="Gaeilge" data-language-local-name="Irish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Gaeilge</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vea_cava_superior" title="Vea cava superior – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Vea cava superior" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%9C%84%EB%8C%80%EC%A0%95%EB%A7%A5" title="위대정맥 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="위대정맥" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gornja_%C5%A1uplja_vena" title="Gornja šuplja vena – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Gornja šuplja vena" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_superiore" title="Vena cava superiore – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Vena cava superiore" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ks mw-list-item"><a href="https://ks.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B3%D9%8F%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%90%DB%8C%D9%8E%D8%B1_%D9%88%DB%8C%D9%86%D8%A7_%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7" title="سُپیرِیَر وینا کاوا – Kashmiri" lang="ks" hreflang="ks" data-title="سُپیرِیَر وینا کاوا" data-language-autonym="कॉशुर / کٲشُر" data-language-local-name="Kashmiri" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>कॉशुर / کٲشُر</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_kava_superior" title="Vena kava superior – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Vena kava superior" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vena_cava_superior" title="Vena cava superior – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Vena cava superior" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8A%E5%A4%A7%E9%9D%99%E8%84%88" title="上大静脈 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="上大静脈" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uz mw-list-item"><a href="https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuqori_kovak_vena" title="Yuqori kovak vena – Uzbek" lang="uz" hreflang="uz" data-title="Yuqori kovak vena" data-language-autonym="Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча" data-language-local-name="Uzbek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BBy%C5%82a_g%C5%82%C3%B3wna_g%C3%B3rna" title="Żyła główna górna – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Żyła główna górna" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veia_cava_superior" title="Veia cava superior – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Veia cava superior" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro mw-list-item"><a href="https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ven%C4%83_cav%C4%83_superioar%C4%83" title="Venă cavă superioară – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro" data-title="Venă cavă superioară" data-language-autonym="Română" data-language-local-name="Romanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Română</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%85%D0%BD%D1%8F%D1%8F_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Верхняя полая вена – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Верхняя полая вена" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horn%C3%A1_dut%C3%A1_%C5%BEila" title="Horná dutá žila – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Horná dutá žila" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl mw-list-item"><a href="https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zgornja_votla_vena" title="Zgornja votla vena – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl" data-title="Zgornja votla vena" data-language-autonym="Slovenščina" data-language-local-name="Slovenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenščina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%9A%D0%B0_%D1%88%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%99%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Горња шупља вена – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Горња шупља вена" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gornja_%C5%A1uplja_vena" title="Gornja šuplja vena – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Gornja šuplja vena" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yl%C3%A4onttolaskimo" title="Yläonttolaskimo – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Yläonttolaskimo" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96vre_h%C3%A5lvenen" title="Övre hålvenen – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Övre hålvenen" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_vena_kava" title="Superior vena kava – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Superior vena kava" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%92%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%85%D0%BD%D1%8F_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0" title="Верхня порожниста вена – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Верхня порожниста вена" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li 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<div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">One of two veinous trunks bringing deoxygenated blood back to the heart</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article uses <a href="/wiki/Anatomical_terminology" title="Anatomical terminology">anatomical terminology</a>.</div> <div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Blood vessel </div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above" style="background-color:lightblue">Superior vena cava</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Gray505.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Gray505.png/250px-Gray505.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="388" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Gray505.png/375px-Gray505.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Gray505.png 2x" data-file-width="451" data-file-height="700" /></a></span><div class="infobox-caption">The superior vena cava drains from the left and right brachiocephalic veins into the <a href="/wiki/Right_atrium" class="mw-redirect" title="Right atrium">right atrium</a></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Frameless"><a href="/wiki/File:Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png/250px-Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="328" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png/375px-Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png/500px-Opening_of_superior_vena_cava.png 2x" data-file-width="2550" data-file-height="3350" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef">Details</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Embryology" title="Embryology">Precursor</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Common_cardinal_veins" title="Common cardinal veins">Common cardinal veins</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em">Drains from</th><td class="infobox-data">Left and right <a href="/wiki/Brachiocephalic_vein" title="Brachiocephalic vein">brachiocephalic veins</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em">Source</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Brachiocephalic_vein" title="Brachiocephalic vein">Brachiocephalic vein</a>, <a href="/wiki/Azygos_vein" title="Azygos vein">azygos vein</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em">Drains to</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Right_atrium" class="mw-redirect" title="Right atrium">Right atrium</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef">Identifiers</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Latin" title="Latin">Latin</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><i>vena cava superior, vena maxima</i></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Medical_Subject_Headings" title="Medical Subject Headings">MeSH</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D014683">D014683</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Terminologia_Anatomica" title="Terminologia Anatomica">TA98</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ifaa.unifr.ch/Public/EntryPage/TA98%20Tree/Entity%20TA98%20EN/12.3.03.001%20Entity%20TA98%20EN.htm">A12.3.03.001</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Terminologia_Anatomica" title="Terminologia Anatomica">TA2</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://ta2viewer.openanatomy.org/?id=4745">4745</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="padding-right:0.25em"><a href="/wiki/Foundational_Model_of_Anatomy" title="Foundational Model of Anatomy">FMA</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bioportal.bioontology.org/ontologies/FMA/?p=classes&conceptid=http%3A%2F%2Fpurl.org%2Fsig%2Font%2Ffma%2Ffma4720">4720</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below"><a href="/wiki/Anatomical_terminology" title="Anatomical terminology">Anatomical terminology</a><div style="text-align: right;"><small class="noprint">[<a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736995" class="extiw" title="d:Q736995">edit on Wikidata</a>]</small></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The <b>superior vena cava</b> (<b>SVC</b>) is the <a href="/wiki/Anatomical_terms_of_location#Superior_and_inferior" title="Anatomical terms of location">superior</a> of the two <a href="/wiki/Venae_cavae" title="Venae cavae">venae cavae</a>, the great <a href="/wiki/Vein" title="Vein">venous</a> trunks that return deoxygenated <a href="/wiki/Blood" title="Blood">blood</a> from the <a href="/wiki/Circulatory_system" title="Circulatory system">systemic circulation</a> to the <a href="/wiki/Atrium_(heart)" title="Atrium (heart)">right atrium</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Heart" title="Heart">heart</a>. It is a large-diameter (24 mm) short length vein that receives venous return from the upper half of the body, above the <a href="/wiki/Thoracic_diaphragm" title="Thoracic diaphragm">diaphragm</a>. Venous return from the lower half, below the diaphragm, flows through the <a href="/wiki/Inferior_vena_cava" title="Inferior vena cava">inferior vena cava</a>. The SVC is located in the anterior right superior <a href="/wiki/Mediastinum" title="Mediastinum">mediastinum</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> It is the typical site of central venous access via a <a href="/wiki/Central_venous_catheter" title="Central venous catheter">central venous catheter</a> or a <a href="/wiki/Peripherally_inserted_central_catheter" title="Peripherally inserted central catheter">peripherally inserted central catheter</a>. Mentions of "the cava" without further specification usually refer to the SVC.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (July 2019)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Structure">Structure</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Structure"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The superior vena cava is formed by the left and right <a href="/wiki/Brachiocephalic_veins" class="mw-redirect" title="Brachiocephalic veins">brachiocephalic veins</a>, which receive blood from the <a href="/wiki/Upper_limb" title="Upper limb">upper limbs</a>, <a href="/wiki/Head" title="Head">head</a> and <a href="/wiki/Neck" title="Neck">neck</a>, behind the lower border of the first right <a href="/wiki/Costal_cartilage" title="Costal cartilage">costal cartilage</a>. It passes vertically downwards behind the first intercostal space and receives the <a href="/wiki/Azygos_vein" title="Azygos vein">azygos vein</a> just before it pierces the fibrous <a href="/wiki/Pericardium" title="Pericardium">pericardium</a> opposite the right second costal cartilage and its lower part is intrapericardial. It then terminates in the upper and posterior part of the sinus venarum of the right atrium, at the upper right front portion of the heart. It is also known as the cranial vena cava in other animals. No <a href="/wiki/Heart_valve" title="Heart valve">valve</a> divides the superior vena cava from the right atrium. </p><p>The superior vena cava is made up of three layers, starting with the innermost endothelial <a href="/wiki/Tunica_intima" title="Tunica intima">tunica intima</a>. The middle layer is the <a href="/wiki/Tunica_media" title="Tunica media">tunica media</a>, composed of smooth muscle tissue, and the outermost and thickest layer is the <a href="/wiki/Tunica_adventitia" class="mw-redirect" title="Tunica adventitia">tunica adventitia</a>, composed of collagen and elastic connective tissue that allow for flexibility. <sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The tunica adventitia contains three zones, with the middle zone consisting of few smooth muscle fibers; this differs from the longitudinal bundles of smooth muscle found in the same zone of the inferior vena cava. <sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Anatomical_variation">Anatomical variation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Anatomical variation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The most common <a href="/wiki/Anatomical_variation" title="Anatomical variation">anatomical variation</a> is a <a href="/wiki/Persistent_left_superior_vena_cava" title="Persistent left superior vena cava">persistent left superior vena cava</a>. In persons with a persistent left superior vena cava, the right superior vena cava may be normal, small or absent, with or without an anterior communicating vein. This variation is present in less than 0.5% of the general population, but in up to 10% in patients with <a href="/wiki/Congenital_heart_defect" title="Congenital heart defect">congenital heart disease</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Clinical_significance">Clinical significance</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Clinical significance"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Superior_vena_cava_obstruction" class="mw-redirect" title="Superior vena cava obstruction">Superior vena cava obstruction</a> refers to a partial or complete obstruction of the superior vena cava, typically in the context of <a href="/wiki/Cancer" title="Cancer">cancer</a> such as a <a href="/wiki/Lung_cancer" title="Lung cancer">cancer of the lung</a>, <a href="/wiki/Metastatic_cancer" class="mw-redirect" title="Metastatic cancer">metastatic cancer</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Lymphoma" title="Lymphoma">lymphoma</a>. Obstruction can lead to enlarged veins in the head and neck, and may also cause breathlessness, cough, chest pain, and difficulty swallowing. <a href="/wiki/Pemberton%27s_sign" title="Pemberton's sign">Pemberton's sign</a> may be positive. Tumours causing obstruction may be treated with <a href="/wiki/Chemotherapy" title="Chemotherapy">chemotherapy</a> and/or <a href="/wiki/Radiotherapy" class="mw-redirect" title="Radiotherapy">radiotherapy</a> to reduce their effects, and <a href="/wiki/Corticosteroid" title="Corticosteroid">corticosteroids</a> may also be given.<sup id="cite_ref-DAVIDSONS2010_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-DAVIDSONS2010-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In <a href="/wiki/Tricuspid_valve" title="Tricuspid valve">tricuspid valve</a> <a href="/wiki/Tricuspid_insufficiency" class="mw-redirect" title="Tricuspid insufficiency">regurgitation</a>, these pulsations are very strong. <sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (June 2014)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>No <a href="/wiki/Heart_valve" title="Heart valve">valve</a> divides the superior vena cava from the right atrium. As a result, the (right) atrial and (right) ventricular contractions are conducted up into the <a href="/wiki/Internal_jugular_vein" title="Internal jugular vein">internal jugular vein</a> and, through the <a href="/wiki/Sternocleidomastoid_muscle" title="Sternocleidomastoid muscle">sternocleidomastoid muscle</a>, can be seen as the <a href="/wiki/Jugular_venous_pressure" title="Jugular venous pressure">jugular venous pressure</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Additional_images">Additional images</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Additional images"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gray490.png" class="mw-file-description" title="The thorax, viewed from the front, showing the superior vena cava between the heart and lungs."><img alt="The thorax, viewed from the front, showing the superior vena cava between the heart and lungs." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Gray490.png/120px-Gray490.png" decoding="async" width="120" height="117" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Gray490.png/180px-Gray490.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Gray490.png/240px-Gray490.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="585" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The thorax, viewed from the front, showing the superior vena cava between the heart and lungs.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gray494.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Heart seen from above, with the valve-less entry of the superior vena cava visible on the right."><img alt="Heart seen from above, with the valve-less entry of the superior vena cava visible on the right." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Gray494.png/120px-Gray494.png" decoding="async" width="120" height="112" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Gray494.png/180px-Gray494.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Gray494.png/240px-Gray494.png 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="465" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Heart seen from above, with the valve-less entry of the superior vena cava visible on the right.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Slide1eeee.JPG" class="mw-file-description" title="Superior vena cava in a cadaveric specimen."><img alt="Superior vena cava in a cadaveric specimen." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Slide1eeee.JPG/120px-Slide1eeee.JPG" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Slide1eeee.JPG/180px-Slide1eeee.JPG 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Slide1eeee.JPG/240px-Slide1eeee.JPG 2x" data-file-width="960" data-file-height="720" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Superior vena cava in a <a href="/wiki/Cadaver" title="Cadaver">cadaveric</a> specimen.</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Gray503.png" class="mw-file-description" title="Cross-section of the thorax showing the formation of the superior vena cava."><img alt="Cross-section of the thorax showing the formation of the superior vena cava." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Gray503.png/120px-Gray503.png" decoding="async" width="120" height="99" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Gray503.png/180px-Gray503.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Gray503.png/240px-Gray503.png 2x" data-file-width="700" data-file-height="576" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Cross-section of the thorax showing the formation of the superior vena cava.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Persistent_left_superior_vena_cava" title="Persistent left superior vena cava">Persistent left superior vena cava</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superior_vena_cava_syndrome" title="Superior vena cava syndrome">Superior vena cava syndrome</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inferior_vena_cava" title="Inferior vena cava">Inferior vena cava</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Superior_vena_cava&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns 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vertebral column"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Veins_of_the_thorax_and_vertebral_column" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Veins of the thorax and vertebral column"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Veins_of_the_thorax_and_vertebral_column" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Vein" title="Vein">Veins</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Thorax" title="Thorax">thorax</a> and <a href="/wiki/Vertebral_column" title="Vertebral column">vertebral column</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Thorax" title="Thorax">Thorax</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Coronary_circulation" title="Coronary circulation">Heart</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Coronary_sinus" title="Coronary sinus">Coronary sinus</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Great_cardiac_vein" title="Great cardiac vein">Great cardiac</a> (<a href="/wiki/Left_marginal_vein" title="Left marginal vein">Left marginal</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Posterior_vein_of_the_left_ventricle" title="Posterior vein of the left ventricle">Posterior of the left ventricle</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oblique_vein_of_the_left_atrium" title="Oblique vein of the left atrium">Oblique of the left atrium</a> (<a href="/wiki/Fold_of_left_vena_cava" title="Fold of left vena cava">Ligament of the left vena cava</a>)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Middle_cardiac_vein" title="Middle cardiac vein">Middle cardiac</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Small_cardiac_vein" title="Small cardiac vein">Small cardiac vein</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anterior_cardiac_veins" title="Anterior cardiac veins">Anterior cardiac</a> (<a href="/wiki/Right_marginal_vein" title="Right marginal vein">Right marginal</a>)</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Lungs</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pulmonary_vein" title="Pulmonary vein">Pulmonary veins</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">superior<br />vena cava</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Brachiocephalic_vein" title="Brachiocephalic vein">Brachiocephalic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Internal_thoracic_vein" title="Internal thoracic vein">internal thoracic</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Anterior_intercostal_veins" title="Anterior intercostal veins">anterior intercostal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superior_epigastric_vein" title="Superior epigastric vein">superior epigastric</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superior_intercostal_vein" title="Superior intercostal vein">left superior intercostal</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Supreme_intercostal_vein" title="Supreme intercostal vein">supreme</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Vertebral_vein" title="Vertebral vein">vertebral</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Subclavian_vein" title="Subclavian vein">subclavian</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Axillary_vein" title="Axillary vein">axillary</a>:</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lateral_thoracic_vein" title="Lateral thoracic vein">lateral thoracic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Thoracoepigastric_vein" title="Thoracoepigastric vein">thoracoepigastric</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dorsal_scapular_vein" title="Dorsal scapular vein">dorsal scapular</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/External_jugular_vein" title="External jugular vein">external jugular</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pericardiacophrenic_veins" title="Pericardiacophrenic veins">pericardiacophrenic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internal_jugular_vein" title="Internal jugular vein">internal jugular</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Azygos_vein" title="Azygos vein">Azygos</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Superior_intercostal_vein" title="Superior intercostal vein">right superior intercostal</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Bronchial_veins" title="Bronchial veins">bronchial</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Intercostal_veins" title="Intercostal veins">intercostal</a>/<a href="/wiki/Posterior_intercostal_veins" title="Posterior intercostal veins">posterior intercostal 5-11</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Accessory_hemiazygos_vein" title="Accessory hemiazygos vein">accessory hemiazygos</a>/<a href="/wiki/Hemiazygos_vein" title="Hemiazygos vein">hemiazygos</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Superior_phrenic_vein" title="Superior phrenic vein">superior phrenic</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Vertebral_column" title="Vertebral column">Vertebral column</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><i>vertebral venous plexuses</i> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/External_vertebral_venous_plexuses" title="External vertebral venous plexuses">external</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Internal_vertebral_venous_plexuses" title="Internal vertebral venous plexuses">internal</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spinal_veins" title="Spinal veins">spinal</a> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Posterior_spinal_veins" title="Posterior spinal veins">posterior</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Anterior_spinal_veins" title="Anterior spinal veins">anterior</a></li></ul></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Basivertebral_veins" title="Basivertebral veins">basivertebral</a></li> 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