superior vena cava (SVC)

Angulus

venosus

Common

carotid artery • Great vessels (Gray's illustration) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Great vessels (Gray's illustration). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 21 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-55141 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Superior vena

cava • Superior vena cava anatomy - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Bashir O, Superior vena cava anatomy. Case study, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 11 Aug 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-16485 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Inferior vena

cava • Truncal venous development (Gray's illustrations) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hacking, C. Truncal venous development (Gray's illustrations). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-93162 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Inferior vena

cava • Caval variants (illustrations) - Ganzer Fall bei Radiopaedia

Hapugoda, S. Caval variants (illustrations). Case study, Radiopaedia.org. (accessed on 23 Oct 2022) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-52176 • CC by-nc-sa 3.0 (modified)

Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

The superior vena cava (SVC) is a large valveless venous channel formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins. It receives blood from the upper half of the body (except the heart) and returns it to the right atrium.

Gross anatomy

The superior vena cava begins behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage and descends vertically behind the first and second intercostal spaces to drain into the right atrium at the superior cavoatrial junction (at the level of the third costal cartilage). Its lower half is covered by the fibrous pericardium, which it pierces at the level of the second costal cartilage .