The function of the inferior vena cava is to transport oxygen poor blood from your lower half of your body back to your heart.
The inferior vena cava is the largest vein in the human body.
Your inferior vena cava collects and gathers the blood that is deoxygenated from your legs, feet, pelvis and your abdominal organs, which includes everything below your diaphragm.
The inferior vena cava then delivers this deoxygenated blood directly into your right atrium, which is the upper right chamber of your heart.
Then your heart pumps the blood to your lungs to pick up fresh oxygen and the cycle repeats.
Your inferior vena cava is around 4 inches long and nearly 1 inch wide to handle the high volumes of blood.
And unlike the smaller veins in the body, the inferior vena cava does not contain any internal one way valves.
And blood movement upward toward your heart is also largely assisted by the changes in pressure and contractions of your diaphragm when you breathe.
Your inferior vena cava is located on the right side of the body and runs vertically along the right side of your spine and your abdominal aorta.
The superior vena cava carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest.
The inferior vena cava carries blood from the legs, feet, and organs in the abdomen and pelvis.
The most important veins in the body are the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava, and the pulmonary veins.
Together, these large vessels handle all the blood flow returning to your heart.
The Pulmonary Veins are also some of the most important veins in the body.
Unlike almost every other vein in the body, these four special veins carry fresh, oxygen-rich blood from your lungs straight back to your heart.