The inferior vena cava (IVC) is another great vessel responsible for returning deoxygenated blood to the heart. In fact, it is the largest vein in the human body. The IVC does not have any valves, and it is a retroperitoneal vein located in the abdominal cavity.

In contrast to the SVC, the inferior vena cava collects venous blood from the lower part of the human body located below the diaphragm - abdomen, pelvis and lower limbs. Like the SVC, it also drains into the right atrium of the heart.

The IVC arises from the confluence of the right common iliac vein and left common iliac vein at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5), next to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta. The IVC ascends vertically along the right anterolateral aspect of the spine, going on the right part of the abdominal aorta. It leaves the abdominal cavity via the caval foramen of the diaphragm located within its central tendon. It happens at the eighth thoracic (T8) vertebral level.

Besides the common iliac veins, tributaries of the inferior vena cava include the following vessels:

Lumbar veins - four paired highly variable veins; however, usually, only the last two pairs drain into the IVC at the level of the L4 and L5 vertebrae; the first two pairs most commonly joint the ascending lumbar vein rather than the IVC;
Right gonadal (testicular or ovarian) vein - flows into the IVC at the L2 level;
Renal veins - two veins found at the L1 level;
Right suprarenal vein - flows into the IVC at the L1 level;
Inferior phrenic veins - two veins positioned at the T8 level;
Hepatic veins - three veins (right hepatic vein, middle hepatic vein, and left hepatic vein) that flow into the IVC at the T8 level.

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Inferior vena cava (IVC)