Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)
Superior vena cava
Vena cava superior
- Origin
- Formed behind the lower border of the 1st right costal cartilage by the confluence of the right and left brachiocephalic veins
- Insertion
- Descends vertically for ~7 cm, receiving the azygos arch, and opens into the superior aspect of the right atrium at the 3rd right costal cartilage
- Function
- Returns all deoxygenated venous blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right side of the heart
- Innervation
- Cardiac autonomic plexus
- Movement & chain
- Transmits central venous pressure (CVP) waveforms (a, c, v waves)
- Palpation
- Evaluated via jugular venous distention (JVD) at 45 degrees
- Clinical
- Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome (malignant extrinsic compression or thrombosis causing facial/upper extremity edema, jugular venous engorgement, and chest wall collaterals; oncologic emergency), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI).
- Segmental innervation
- T1-T4 spinal levels
- In clinical practice
- Central venous catheter (CVC/PICC) tip position verification at the cavoatrial junction, Fowler's positioning and emergency dexamethasone/stenting in SVC obstruction
- Region in the model
- Trunk vessels (aorta, vena cava, abdominal branches)