Superior vena cava

Definition

The superior vena cava is a large vein located in the upper body that carries deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest back to the heart. It empties this blood into the right atrium of the heart.

Related terms

Right Atrium: The right atrium is one of the four chambers of the heart that receives deoxygenated blood from the superior vena cava and pumps it into the right ventricle.

Deoxygenated Blood: Deoxygenated blood is blood that has delivered its oxygen supply to tissues and is returning to the heart to be sent to the lungs for oxygenation.

Pulmonary Circulation: Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart