Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural ve·nae ca·vae [vee-nee key-vee] /ˈvi ni ˈkeɪ vi/. Anatomy.
- either of two large veins discharging blood into the right atrium of the heart, one (superior vena cava or precava) conveying blood from the head, chest, and upper extremities and the other (inferior vena cava or postcava) conveying blood from all parts below the diaphragm.
noun plural venae cavae (ˈkeɪviː)
- either one of the two large veins that convey oxygen-depleted blood to the heart
Medical Latin, from Latin vena “vein” (see vein) + cava, from cavus “hollow” (see cave (n.)).
n. pl. venae ca•vae (kā′vē)
- Either of the two venae cavae, designated inferior and superior.cava
Plural venae cavae (vē′nē kā′vē)
- Either of two large veins that carry blood with low levels of oxygen to the right atrium of the heart.♦ The superior vena cava receives blood from the brain and upper limbs or forelimbs.♦ The inferior vena cava drains blood from the trunk and lower limbs or hindlimbs and is the largest vein in the body.