The Inferior Vena Cava
About
The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a vital large vein that functions for returning deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the right atrium of the heart. It begins anteriorly to the 5th lumbar vertebra and is formed by the convergence of the left and right common iliac veins. It runs parallel to the right side of the abdominal aorta. It crosses over the right crus and into the caval opening of the diaphragm (at T8 level).
Tributaries
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1. Common Iliac Veins: Formed by the joining of the internal and external iliac veins.
2. Lumbar Veins: Approximately about 5 pairs will anastomose to form the ascending lumbar vein which will drain into the IVC. On the right side, it will terminate as the azygos vein and on the left as the hemiazygos vein. It drains the lumbar region of the spine and the posterior abdominal wall.
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3. Gonadal Veins: Ovarian Veins (females) and Testicular Veins (males). The right gonadal vein drains directly into the IVC but the left gonadal vein drains into the left renal vein to join the IVC.
4. Renal Veins: The left renal vein is longer in length than the right renal vein. The left crosses anterior to the abdominal aorta and drains into the IVC. The left renal vein also tributaries are the left suprarenal vein and left gonadal vein.
5. Hepatic Veins: Drain blood from the liver. Its tributaries are the right, middle, and left hepatic veins which all will converge into the IVC.
6. Suprarenal Veins: Drain the suprarenal/adrenal glands. The right suprarenal vein drains directly into the IVC. However, the left suprarenal vein receives blood from the left inferior phrenic vein and drains into the left renal vein.
7. Phrenic Veins: Drains the diaphragm. The left phrenic vein often drains into the left renal vein but the right phrenic vein drains directly into the IVC.