Tags: Anatomical Structure, Vein.
The venae cavae (from the Latin for hollow veins feminine plural) are the two large veins (venous trunks) that return deoxygenated blood from the body into the heart. They are the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava. Both empty into the right atrium.The inferior vena cava (or caudal vena cava in animals) travels up alongside the abdominal aorta with blood from the lower part of the body (see # 11 in the diagram).
