Inferior vena cava - Anatomy, Branches & Function - Human Anatomy | Kenhub

The inferior cava is the large collecting vessel for deoxgenated blood drained from the lower limbs, pelvis and abdomen. It empties into the right atrium of the heart. Have a closer look in our atlas: https://khub.me/8ur3r

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The inferior vena cava (also known as the IVC, or posterior vena cava) is a large diameter vein that is located posterior to the abdominal cavity and runs alongside of the right side of the vertebral column (thus making it a retroperitoneal structure), with the aorta lying laterally on the left of the IVC.

The specific anatomical levels of the branches connected to the IVC are listed below:

Hepatic veins (T8)
Inferior phrenic vein (T8)
Right suprarenal vein (L1)
Renal veins (L1)
Right gonadal vein (L2)
Lumbar veins (L1-L5)
Common iliac veins (L5)

The IVC is one of the two primary veins by which blood is returned from the body to the right side of the heart. After circulating through the lower limbs, pelvis and abdomen, deoxygenated blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart by the inferior vena cava.

0:15 Location of IVC
0:58 Formation of IVC
1:18 Course of IVC
1:34 Branches/Tributaries of IVC
2:08 Function of IVC

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Read more on the tributaries which empty into the inferior vena cava right here:
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