Anatomy study note · Thorax

Superior vena cava

The large vein formed by the union of the two brachiocephalic veins. It returns all blood from the head, neck and upper limbs to the right atrium.

Key points

• Formed by the 2 brachiocephalic veins.
• Receives the azygos vein.
• Opens into the right atrium (no valve).
• Obstruction → upper body venous congestion.
• SVC: right anterior cardinal + right common cardinal vein.
• Venae cavae/pulmonary veins: cardiac muscle in adventitia near the heart.
• Vein: thin wall, adventitia thickest, valves.

The full note in the atlas also covers

Tributaries · Histology · Development · Clinical notes

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Written from

• Snell’s Clinical Anatomy by Regions, 10th ed., ch. 5, PDF pp. 551, 647–650
• Inderbir Singh’s Human Embryology, ch. 15, PDF pp. 232, 264, 270
• BRS Cell Biology & Histology, 7th ed., ch. 11, PDF pp. 203–205, 204

More from the thorax

• Sympathetic trunk
• Thymus
• Trachea
• Tricuspid valve
• Vagus nerve
• Aortic valve
• Arch of aorta
• Ascending aorta
• Azygos vein
• Brachiocephalic artery
• Brachiocephalic veins
• Bronchopulmonary segments

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