The superior vena cava
Superior vena cava · vena cava superior
The large vein that returns blood from your head, neck and arms to the heart.
What it does
The superior vena cava forms behind the upper breastbone where the two brachiocephalic veins join, and runs down into the right atrium. It carries oxygen-poor blood returning from the head, neck, arms and upper chest.
Surprising fact
It is so close to the heart that the tips of long-term intravenous lines and some catheters are placed in it, where fast blood flow quickly dilutes medicines.
Why it matters
Chemotherapy drugs are often given through a line ending here because the large, fast-flowing vein tolerates medicines that would irritate smaller veins.
Nearby
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Sources
Drafted with AI help; awaiting a human fact-check against these sources.
Open in the 3D atlas · Suggest a correction · Not medical advice.
3D models: Z-Anatomy & BodyParts3D (CC BY-SA 4.0 / 2.1 JP). Card text CC BY 4.0.