Also called: SVC
The superior vena cava is the large vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, upper limbs and chest wall to the right atrium. It is formed behind the first right costal cartilage by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins and is about seven centimetres long.
| Location | Right side of the superior mediastinum, from the first right costal cartilage to the right atrium. |
|---|---|
| Structure | Formed by the brachiocephalic veins; receives the azygos vein before entering the heart. |
| Function | Drains blood from the head, neck, upper limbs and thorax. |
| Blood supply | Vasa vasorum. |
| Innervation | Sympathetic fibres from the cardiac plexus. |
3D model: BodyParts3D (CC BY 4.0), adult male reference anatomy. Highlighted structure shown with nearby bones for context.
The SVC has no valves. Its close relation to the trachea, right lung and lymph nodes explains why mediastinal masses can obstruct it.
The union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins.
Into the right atrium of the heart.
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