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Superior vena cava

 

 
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Superior vena cava
 
 
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The superior vena cava is a large, yet short vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
 that carries deoxygenated blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
 from the upper half of the body to the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
's right atrium
Right atrium

The right atrium is one of four heart chamber in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava vena cava and the coronary sinus, and pumps it into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve....
.

It is formed by the left and right brachiocephalic vein
Brachiocephalic vein

The left and right brachiocephalic veins in the upper chest are formed by the union of each corresponding internal jugular vein and subclavian vein....
s, (also referred to as the innominate
Innominate

Innominate can refer to:*The brachiocephalic artery*The brachiocephalic veins*The two large bones which form the hip bone*An innominate contract, a contract not of a type regulated by law....
 veins) which also receive blood from the upper limb
Upper limb

In human anatomy, the upper Limb refers to what in common English is known as the arm, that is, the region of the shoulder to the fingertips....
s and the head
Head

In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilateria do....
 and neck
Neck

The neck is the part of the body on many limbed vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The scientific term signifying "of the neck" is nuchal....
, behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage. The azygous vein (which receives blood from the rib cage
Human rib cage

The human rib cage, also known as the thoracic cage, is a bony and cartilaginous structure which surrounds the thoracic cavity and supports the pectoral girdle, forming a core portion of the human skeleton....
) joins it just before it enters the right atrium, at the upper right front portion of the heart.






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The superior vena cava is a large, yet short vein
Vein

In the circulatory system, veins are blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart. Most veins carry deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart; exceptions are the pulmonary vein and umbilical veins, both of which carry oxygenated blood....
 that carries deoxygenated blood
Blood

Blood is a specialized bodily fluid that delivers necessary substances to the body's Cell s ? such as nutrients and oxygen ? and transports waste products away from those same cells....
 from the upper half of the body to the heart
Heart

The heart is a muscle organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods....
's right atrium
Right atrium

The right atrium is one of four heart chamber in the human heart. It receives deoxygenated blood from the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava vena cava and the coronary sinus, and pumps it into the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve....
.

It is formed by the left and right brachiocephalic vein
Brachiocephalic vein

The left and right brachiocephalic veins in the upper chest are formed by the union of each corresponding internal jugular vein and subclavian vein....
s, (also referred to as the innominate
Innominate

Innominate can refer to:*The brachiocephalic artery*The brachiocephalic veins*The two large bones which form the hip bone*An innominate contract, a contract not of a type regulated by law....
 veins) which also receive blood from the upper limb
Upper limb

In human anatomy, the upper Limb refers to what in common English is known as the arm, that is, the region of the shoulder to the fingertips....
s and the head
Head

In anatomy, the head of an animal is the rostral part that usually comprises the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth . Some very simple animals may not have a head, but many bilateria do....
 and neck
Neck

The neck is the part of the body on many limbed vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The scientific term signifying "of the neck" is nuchal....
, behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage. The azygous vein (which receives blood from the rib cage
Human rib cage

The human rib cage, also known as the thoracic cage, is a bony and cartilaginous structure which surrounds the thoracic cavity and supports the pectoral girdle, forming a core portion of the human skeleton....
) joins it just before it enters the right atrium, at the upper right front portion of the heart. It is also known as the cranial vena cava in animals.

No valve
Valve

A valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe Piping and plumbing fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category....
 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
Internal jugular vein

The two internal jugular veins collect the blood from the brain, the superficial parts of the face, and the neck....
 and, through the sternocleidomastoid muscle
Sternocleidomastoid muscle

In human anatomy, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, also known as sternomastoid and commonly abbreviated as SCM, is a paired muscle in the superficial layers of the anterior portion of the neck....
, can be seen as the jugular venous pressure
Jugular venous pressure

The jugular venous pressure is the indirectly observed pressure over the vein. It can be useful in the differentiation of different forms of heart disease and lung disease....
. In tricuspid valve
Tricuspid valve

The tricuspid valve is on the right side of the heart, between the right atrium and the right ventricle. The normal tricuspid valve usually has three leaflets and three papillary muscles....
 regurgitation
Tricuspid insufficiency

Tricuspid insufficiency, a valvular heart disease also called Tricuspid regurgitation, refers to the failure of the heart's tricuspid valve to close properly during systole....
, these pulsations are very strong.

Additional images

 

 

 

See also

  • Persistent left superior vena cava
    Persistent left superior vena cava

    In anatomy, a persistent left superior vena cava is the most common variation of the thoracic venous system, is prevalent in 0.3% of the population, and an embryology remnant that results from a failure to involution ....
  • Superior vena cava syndrome
    Superior vena cava syndrome

    Superior vena cava syndrome , or superior vena cava obstruction , is usually the result of the direct obstruction of the superior vena cava by malignancies- such as compression of the vessel wall by right upper lobe tumors and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy....