vena cava
noun
ve·na ca·va
ˌvē-nə-ˈkā-və 
plural venae cavae
ˌvē-(ˌ)nē-ˈkā-(ˌ)vē
: any of the large veins by which in air-breathing vertebrates the blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart
Examples of vena cava in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Avoid lying on your right side or flat on your back, which puts the full weight of your uterus on the vena cava.
—
Parents Editors, Parents, 17 Oct. 2023
Cancer may also be found in the bronchus, pleura, diaphragm, chest wall, breastbone, backbone, phrenic nerve, pericardium, vena cava, aorta, pharynx, trachea, esophagus, and/or carina (the area where the trachea branches into the bronchi).
—Lynne Eldridge, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2023
Seven years earlier, the man had a CT scan that showed an almost total blockage of his vena cava.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 30 Nov. 2022
The fatal stab wound punctured his vena cava.
—Fox News, 7 Dec. 2021
The results of his work led other physicians to use the femoral vein, deep within the thigh, to reach the inferior vena cava, which carries blood from the legs, feet and abdomen to the heart.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2021
The medical technologies developer and manufacturer’s line of IVC filters, which include the Recovery, G2, G2X, Eclipse, Meridian and Denali filters, are inserted into the inferior vena cava vein to prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart and lungs.
—Dallas News, 26 July 2021
After a few hours spent separating connections from the vena cava and nearby tissue, the patient's liver is fully removed.
—Christian Thorsberg, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2022
Inferior vena cava filters are supposed to save lives.
—Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 2 Feb. 2023
Parents Editors, Parents, 17 Oct. 2023
Cancer may also be found in the bronchus, pleura, diaphragm, chest wall, breastbone, backbone, phrenic nerve, pericardium, vena cava, aorta, pharynx, trachea, esophagus, and/or carina (the area where the trachea branches into the bronchi).
—Lynne Eldridge, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2023
Seven years earlier, the man had a CT scan that showed an almost total blockage of his vena cava.
—Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 30 Nov. 2022
The fatal stab wound punctured his vena cava.
—Fox News, 7 Dec. 2021
The results of his work led other physicians to use the femoral vein, deep within the thigh, to reach the inferior vena cava, which carries blood from the legs, feet and abdomen to the heart.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 14 Oct. 2021
The medical technologies developer and manufacturer’s line of IVC filters, which include the Recovery, G2, G2X, Eclipse, Meridian and Denali filters, are inserted into the inferior vena cava vein to prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart and lungs.
—Dallas News, 26 July 2021
After a few hours spent separating connections from the vena cava and nearby tissue, the patient's liver is fully removed.
—Christian Thorsberg, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2022
Inferior vena cava filters are supposed to save lives.
—Lizzy Lawrence, STAT, 2 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vena cava.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Vena cava.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vena%20cava. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vena cava
noun
ve·na ca·va
ˌvē-nə-ˈkā-və
plural venae cavae
ˌvē-ni-ˈkā-vē
: one of the large veins by which the blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart in an air-breathing vertebrate
Medical Definition
vena cava
noun
ve·na ca·va
ˌvē-nə-ˈkā-və
plural venae cavae
-ni-ˈkā-(ˌ)vē
: either of two large veins by which the blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart:
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