Inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava drains blood to the heart from all of the structures located below the diaphragm.
- Forms from the union of the two common iliac veins on the right side at the level of lumbar vertebra L5
- Courses through the posterior abdominal region on the right side, in parallel to the abdominal aorta (the aorta is located to its left)
Tributes
Generally, only paired veins will end up in the inferior vena cava (think paired organs and structures, i.e. the kidneys, gonads, muscles and abdominal wall, but also the liver):
- Common iliac arteries
- Form the inferior vena cava
- Lumbar