436 



ANGIOLOGY, 



POSTERIOR VENA CAVA. 

 (Fig. 165. 1.) 



The posterior vena cava returns the blood from the posterior 

 extremities, abdominal, and pelvic viscera. It corresponds to the 

 posterior aorta, and commences at the entrance of the pelvic cavity 

 by the pair of common iliac veins, runs forwards under the bodies 

 of the lumbar vertebrae, in contact with the psoas parvus, having 

 the posterior aorta on its left. On reaching the superior border 



Fio. 165. 

 Abdominal portion of the posterior cava— the cavity opened on the right side, and most of the 

 viscera removed. 1, Posterior cava ; a, Right, 6, Left common iliac vein ; V, Left external iliac ; 

 i", Left internal iliac : c. Right circumflex ilii ; e' c', Lumbars ; d, Left spermatic ; e. Eight renal ; 

 //, Hepatic veins ; g. Diaphragmatic vein. 



of the liver, it is inclined downwards ; and thus leaving the sub- 

 lumbar region, it occupies the anterior fissure of the liver, passes 

 through the foramen dextrum of the diaphragm, into the thoracic 

 cavity, then through the notch in the right lung, covered by a 

 reflection of pleura, and finally enters the right auricle of the 

 heart at its postero-external part. In the abdomen, it is related 

 with the right kidney and pancreas. It receives the satellite veins 

 of the various arteries of the region ; but those of the chylo-poietic 



