Inferior vena cava

Looks like

The body's largest vein, a wide thin-walled trunk to the right of the aorta.

What it does

Returns all blood from the belly and legs to the heart.

Keeping it well

Move on long journeys and after surgery; clots in the leg veins travel this way to the lungs.

Its parts

• Right external iliac vein
• Left external iliac vein
• Right internal iliac vein
• Left internal iliac vein
• Right common iliac vein
• Left common iliac vein
• Inferior phrenic vein
• Ascending lumbar vein
• Lumbar vein

Related conditions

• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia & APS)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Varicose veins