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

vena caval

ˌvē-nə-ˈkā-vəl 

adjective

Examples of vena cava in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My vena cava had a huge hole in it — that’s the major artery back to the heart, and that’s where a lot of the internal bleeding was coming from. —Danielle Jennings, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025

The vena cava is the largest vein in the body, carrying deoxygenated blood to the heart from the upper body parts (superior vena cava) and lower body parts (inferior vena cava). —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024

Sleeping or resting in this position may compress the inferior vena cava, a major vein that returns blood from your lower body to your heart. —Elisa Cinelli, Parents, 2 July 2024

Lying on your back puts the weight of your uterus on your inferior vena cava. —Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin vēna cava, literally, "hollow vein," translation of Greek phlèps koílē

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for vena cava

• balaclava
• cassava
• fava
• guava
• jahveh
• lava

Kids 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:

a

: inferior vena cava

b

: superior vena cava

vena caval

-vəl 

adjective