May 11, 2020 the superior vena cava commonly pops up in exams. It transports blood from our arms, chest, neck, and head to our hearts. The superior vena cava svc starts at the confluence of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage, and ends at the level of the third right costal cartilage where it drains into the right atrium. Cardiovascular robert oconnor university college dublin aortic arch. Superior vena cava endoprostheses have proven effective for treating benign causes of superior vena cava obstruction, even in the presence of a cardiac pacemaker. The inferior vena cava anatomy of the inferior vena cava. A, note filling of the left subclavian vein and retrograde flow in the superior intercostal vein and pericardiophrenic collateral. Vena cava, in airbreathing vertebrates, including humans, either of two major trunks, the anterior and posterior venae cavae, that deliver oxygendepleted blood to the right side of the heart. Vena cava anomalies are a rare group of anatomical variations due to an incorrect development of the superior or inferior vena cava during fetal life. Left superior vena cava definition of left superior vena. At the level of t4, the superior vena cava receives the azygous vein, which drains the upper lumbar region and thoracic wall. Anatomy of the superior vena cava and brachiocephalic veins. Feb 29, 2016 treatment of obstruction of the superior vena cava by combination chemotherapy with and without irradiation in smallcell carcinoma of the bronchus. A surprise on transient cardiac pacemaker implantation in our study, the percentage of patients with underlying malign causes of superior vena.
Superior vena cava an overview sciencedirect topics. The anterior vena cava, also known as the precava, drains the head end of the body, while the posterior vena cava, or postcava, drains the tail, or rear, end. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava svc. Figure 178 collateral circulation with high superior vena cava svc obstruction from hodgkin disease on coronal reformatted computed tomography angiography. Variants of anatomy of the of superior and inferior vena cava are congenital. Any information contained in this pdf file is automatically generated from digital. A large vein that receives blood from the head, neck, upper extremities, and thorax and delivers it to the right atrium of the heart. A persistent leftsided superior vena cava is seen in 0. A surprise on transient cardiac pacemaker implantation in our study, the percentage of patients with underlying malign causes of superior vena cava syndrome associated downhill varices was low 1. Risk factors, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis view in chinese. In superior vena cava syndrome svcs, this vein has. Left superior vena cava synonyms, left superior vena cava pronunciation, left superior vena cava translation, english dictionary definition of left superior vena cava. Superior vena cava the superior vena cava is one of the two main veins bringing deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart.
The inferior vena cava ivc is the largest vein of the human body. The superior vena cava is very important for the function of the cardiovascular system, since it largely contributes to the input of blood to the right atrium. Congenital or acquired abnormalities can affect the. It receives blood from the upper half of the body except the heart and returns it to the right atrium. Superior vena cava the anatomy of the veins visual guide. A persistent leftsided superior vena cava lsvc is the most common variant of systemic venous drainage. Superior vena cava article about superior vena cava by. Since the rabbit normally has a left superior vena cava 16, 17, the ostium of the coronary sinus embryologically derived from the terminal portion of the left superior vena cava in most. Anatomy and physiology the heart atrium heart heart.
Superior vena cava syndrome, phleboscanner, endoprosthesis, overload syndrome, central. Other articles where superior vena cava is discussed. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs, a clinical manifestation arising from compression of the thinwalled superior vena cava svc, was first described by william hunter in 1757 and can be caused by a variety malignancies hunter and johnston 1757. Superior vena cava definition, see under vena cava. Choose from 141 different sets of vena cava anatomy physiology flashcards on quizlet. Superior vena cava syndrome with malignant causes nejm. The venae cavae are the two largest veins in the body. In addition to the persistent leftsided superior vena cava 8290%, a normal vena cava can also be found. The superior vena cava svc, also known as the cava or cva is a short, but large diameter vein located in the anterior right superior mediastinum. Mar 17, 2015 grading grade category incidence definition 0 asymptomatic 10 radiographic superior vena cava obstruction in the absence of symptoms 1 mild 25 edema in head or neck vascular distention, cyanosis, plethora 2 moderate 50 edema in head or neck with functional impairment mild dysphagia, cough, mild or moderate impairment of head, jaw or eyelid.
Through small circulation, or pulmonary circulation, the blood is cleansed and sent back to the heart to be pumped full of. Health problems attributed to the ivc are most often associated with it being. May 15, 2020 the inferior vena cava ivc is the largest vein of the human body. The superior vena cava contains venous blood from the head, neck, both upper limbs and from structures within the thorax. Imaging ie, radiography, computed tomography ct, magnetic resonance mr venography, and conventional venography plays an important role in identifying congenital variants. The superior vena cava svc is the largest central systemic vein in the mediastinum.
Most often, it is seen incidentally during a computed tomography scan of the thorax. It is a medical emergency and most often manifests in patients with a malignant disease process within the thorax. Similarities and variations from the prior classification scheme were analyzed. Objectives at the end of this presentation you will be able to. Superior vena cava the anatomy of the veins visual guide, page 15 of 52 this is page 15 of a photographic atlas i created as a laboratory study resource for my biol 121 anatomy and physiology i students on the anatomy of the veins. The inferior vena cava anatomy is essential due to the veins great drainage area.
The superior vena cava svc is formed by the confluence of the right and left innominate veins and enters the right atrium at its upper pole. Inferior vena cava the inferior vena cava is one of the two. In humans these veins are respectively called the superior and inferior venae cavae. Svcs is a significant disorder affecting up to 10 % of small cell lung cancer sclc patients and 24 % of all lung cancer patients. The superior vena cava delivers blood from the head and chest area to the heart, while the inferior vena cava returns blood from the lower body regions to the heart. The ivcs function is to carry the venous blood from the lower limbs and abdominopelvic region to the heart. Feb 01, 2018 preoperative evaluation of the vena cava anatomy at ct scan is mandatory for the surgeon to properly plan the surgery. Veins from the head and upper body feed into the superior vena cava, which empties into the right atrium of the heart. Superior vena cava syndrome svcs is a medical condition which consists of the obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava.
It is located at the posterior abdominal wall on the right side of the aorta. Positionally, the svc begins behind the lower border of the 1st right costal cartilage and descends vertically behind the 2nd and 3rd intercostal spaces to drain into the right atrium at the level of the 3rd costal cartilage. Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare disorders that are triggered by an altered immune system response to a neoplasm. Resection and reconstruction of the superior vena cava svc occasionally is required to surgically treat tumors invading the mediastinum and present a technically challenging situation that may. Md, frcscb, keywords superior vena cava brachiocephalic veins. Its lower half is covered by the fibrous pericardium, which it pierces at the level of the second costal. Collateral pathways in superior vena caval obstruction as. A 58yearold man presents with a 2week history of progressive dyspnea on exertion, neck swelling, decreased appetite, and fatigue. Many caval variants exist, due to the complex embryology of the venous system. Superior vena cava definition of superior vena cava at. Anatomy, thorax, superior vena cava abstract europe pmc. The superior vena cava is one of the primary veins within our bodies. Upper extremity veins and superior vena cava radiology key.
Left superior vena cava article about left superior vena. Its latin name is related to its large pipe appearance in cadavers, cava meaning hollow. Learn vena cava anatomy physiology with free interactive flashcards. For example, obstruction of the superior vena cava svc may lead to the signs and symptoms of svc syndrome eg, headache, facial swelling, while obstruction of the esophagus venous thrombosis and thromboembolism in children. They generally show no clinical relevance and the diagnosis is done due to the association with congenital heart diseases in most of cases. Superior vena cava not far below the collarbone and in back of the right side of the breastbone, two large veins, the right and left brachiocephalic, join to form the superior vena cava. Pmc free article stanford w, jolles h, ell s, chiu lc. Anatomical variants of superior and inferior vena cava epos.
Radioanatomy of the superior vena cava syndrome and therapeutic. A n a t o m y o f th e superior vena ca va and brachiocephalic ve in s w. Superior vena cava obstruction evaluation with mdct. Pdf the leftsided superior vena cava lsvc is the most frequent. It is a largediameter 24 mm short length vein that receives venous return from the upper half of the body, above the diaphragm. Superior vena cava article about superior vena cava by the. Superior vena cava definition is the branch of the vena cava of a vertebrate that brings blood back from the head and anterior part of the body to the heart.
The superior vena cava begins behind the lower border of the first right costal cartilage and descends vertically behind the second and third intercostal spaces to drain into the right atrium at the superior cavoatrial junction at the level of the third costal cartilage. The ivcs function is to carry the venous blood from the lower limbs and abdominopelvic region to the heart the inferior vena cava anatomy is essential due to the veins great drainage area, which also makes it a hot topic for anatomy exams. Whereas many mammals, including humans, have only one anterior vena cava, other animals have two. The superior vena cava svc is a large valveless venous channel formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins. Superior vena cava definition of superior vena cava by. Grading grade category incidence definition 0 asymptomatic 10 radiographic superior vena cava obstruction in the absence of symptoms 1 mild 25 edema in head or neck vascular distention, cyanosis, plethora 2 moderate 50 edema in head or neck with functional impairment mild dysphagia, cough, mild or moderate impairment of head, jaw or eyelid. It carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body to the right atrium of the heart. The superior vena cava is solely responsible for transporting deoxygenated blood from the upper portion of the body head, neck, upper limbs, and some organs of the chest into the heart, which then sends it to the lungs. Endoprostheses are also used to bypass malignant obstructions of the superior vena cava because they do not preclude further oncologic treatment with surgery or chemotherapy, and they. Sep 01, 2017 the superior vena cava is one of the primary veins within our bodies. Venous return from the lower half, below the diaphragm, flows through the. Halfway along its course, before it enters the pericardium, the svc receives the azygos arch. The superior vena cava svc is the superior of the two venae cavae, the great venous trunks. Anatomy lectures by dr deepak agarmor in this video you will learn anatomy of superior vena cava in hindi.
This is the first reported case of a duplicate superior vena cava and interrupted inferior vena cava in a single patient in english literature. From the pelvis, the inferior vena cava ascends through the posterior abdominal body wall just to the right of the vertebral column. The corresponding vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body is the superior vena cava. Purpose collateral venous pathways occurring with superior vena cava svc obstruction were examined based on ct scans obtained from the thoracic inlet to the pubic symphysis. Find out how you can prepare effectively with our anatomy quiz questions. Imaging ie, radiography, computed tomography ct, magnetic resonance mr venography, and conventional venography plays an important role in identifying congenital variants and pathologic conditions that affect the svc. Furthermore, the identification and isolation of mediastinal great vessels should be performed precociously during any thoracic surgery intervention in order to avoid complications. We describe a unique case of a patient in which combined superior vena cava and inferior vena cava anomalies were found incidentally. The brachiocephalic veins, as their name impliesbeing formed from the greek words. It collects blood from veins serving the tissues inferior to the heart and returns this blood to the right atrium of the heart. The superior vena cava svc is the superior of the two venae cavae, the great venous trunks that return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium of the heart. Mdct is the method of choice to differentiate lsvc from other veins that may present with a vertical course through the left side of the mediastinum. The inferior vena cava forms at the superior end of the pelvic cavity when the common iliac veins unite to form a larger vein.
There are no valves in either the svc or the brachiocephalic veins. Feb 08, 2017 anatomy lectures by dr deepak agarmor in this video you will learn anatomy of superior vena cava in hindi. The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body. The superior vena cava drains from the left and right brachiocephalic veins into the right atrium. Review of evolving etiologies, implications and treatment. Anatomy of the cardiac conduction system in the rabbit.
These blood vessels carry oxygendepleted blood from various regions of the body to the right atrium of the heart. Vena and cava and left each have 4 letters, so vena cava is on the left. Although the vena cava is very large in diameter, its walls are incredibly thin due to the low pressure exerted by venous blood. It is formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins which provide venous drainage of the head, neck and upper limbs. Pdf anatomy of the superior vena cava and brachiocephalic. The principal vein collecting blood from the head, chest wall, and upper extremities and draining into the right atrium explanation of left superior vena cava. Inferior vena cava definition of inferior vena cava by. Find out information about left superior vena cava.
The full text of this article is available in pdf format. View disclaimer the right atrium receives oxygenpoor blood from the body via two large veins superior vena cava above the heart and the inferior vena cava below the heart. Persistent left superior vena cava and left sided inferior vena cava coincidance with coronary sinus aneurysm. The superior vena cava is a large, significant vein responsible for returning deoxygenated.
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