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

Venous blood of the lower limbs and pelvis drains into the external and internal iliac veins, respectively. These unite to form the common iliac veins, which themselves merge to form the inferior vena cava. As it ascends through the abdominal cavity, the inferior vena cava receives venous blood from the vessels draining the abdominal organs, such as the the hepatic veins and splenic vein (shown on the previous image), superior and inferior mesenteric veins and ovarian/testicular veins. The inferior vena cava leaves the abdomen by passing through the diaphragm into the posterior mediastinum, where it empties directly into the right atrium.