Cardiovascular system: Veins of the lower part of the body (Latin)

Venous blood of the lower limbs and pelvis drains into the v. iliaca externa and v. iliaca interna, respectively. These unite to form the vv. iliacae communes, which themselves merge to form the v. cava inferior. As it ascends through the abdominal cavity, the v. cava inferior receives venous blood from the vessels draining the abdominal organs, such as the the vv. hepaticae and v. splenica (shown on the previous image), v. mesenterica superior and inferior, and v. ovarica/testicularis. The v. cava inferior leaves the abdomen by passing through the diaphragm into the posterior mediastinum, where it empties directly into the atrium dextrum.