Superior vena cava — Anatomy Notes, Diagram & Quiz

The Superior vena cava is located in the mediastinum. Returns deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium. The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.

Superior vena cava highlighted in a 3D model of the human body
Superior vena cava highlighted in the 3D body atlas. 3D atlas: BodyParts3D (DBCLS, CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan); Écorché/Z-Anatomy (CC BY-SA 4.0). Rendered in anotemy.

Key facts

Superior vena cava at a glance
LocationMediastinum
Main functionReturns deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium.
Layerorgans
Key fact 1The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.
Key fact 2The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium.
Key fact 3The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

Where is the Superior vena cava located?

The Superior vena cava is located in the mediastinum.

The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.

What does the Superior vena cava do?

Returns deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium.

The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium.

What to know for exams

  • The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.
  • The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium.
  • The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

It belongs to the organs layer. Learn its location, relations, and the structures it works with.

Clinical relevance

The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

Link the superior vena cava to its blood supply, innervation and relations. That is how exam questions usually test it.

Memory aid: Superior vena cava

The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage. The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium. The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

Chain it as location → function → clinical link when you revise.

Superior vena cava anatomy quiz

Five questions. Open each answer after you commit to a response.

  1. Where is the Superior vena cava located?

    Reveal answer

    Mediastinum

  2. What is the main function of the Superior vena cava?

    Reveal answer

    Returns deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium.

  3. Give one key fact about the Superior vena cava.

    Reveal answer

    The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.

  4. Give another key fact about the Superior vena cava.

    Reveal answer

    The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium.

  5. What clinical link is associated with the Superior vena cava?

    Reveal answer

    The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

Common questions

Where is the Superior vena cava located?

The Superior vena cava is located in the mediastinum. The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage.

What does the Superior vena cava do?

Returns deoxygenated blood from upper body to right atrium. The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium.

What is a key fact about the Superior vena cava?

The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

What layer does the Superior vena cava belong to?

It belongs to the organs layer of the body.

What should I remember for exams?

The Superior vena cava is formed by the union of the brachiocephalic veins behind the first right costal cartilage. The Superior vena cava returns blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and chest wall to the right atrium. The Superior vena cava can be compressed by a mediastinal mass, causing superior vena cava syndrome with facial swelling.

Sources

  1. Standring, S. (ed.). Gray’s Anatomy, 42nd edition. Elsevier, 2020.
  2. TeachMeAnatomy — anatomy library
  3. Kenhub — anatomy library
  4. StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf — Superior vena cava search

3D atlas and image credits

Anatomy models: BodyParts3D, © Database Center for Life Science (DBCLS), CC BY-SA 2.1 Japan. Écorché by Charleeh, derived from BodyParts3D and Z-Anatomy, CC BY-SA 4.0. Rendered in anotemy. Changes: highlighting, framing, labels and background removal. Images: CC BY-SA 4.0.

The 3D models are third-party assets under Creative Commons share-alike licences. They keep those licences; the page text is separate. If you reuse an image, keep the attribution and the share-alike licence.