What is the function of the vena cava
The vena cava is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. There are two main types of vena cava: the superior vena cava, which receives blood from the upper body, and the inferior vena cava, which receives blood from the lower body. The function of the vena cava is to deliver deoxygenated blood back to the right atrium of the heart, where it will be pumped to the lungs for oxygenation.
The vena cava refers to two large, main veins in the body - the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. These veins are responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart.
1. Superior vena cava: It collects deoxygenated blood from the upper body, including the head, neck, arms, and chest. The superior vena cava forms from the merging of the left and right brachiocephalic veins, which receive blood from the corresponding jugular and subclavian veins.
2. Inferior vena cava: It collects deoxygenated blood from the lower body, including the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. The inferior vena cava begins at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra, where the two common iliac veins meet. It then ascends along the posterior abdominal wall to reach the right atrium of the heart.
Both the superior and inferior vena cava play a crucial role in the circulatory system by facilitating the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart, which will be subsequently pumped to the lungs for oxygenation.