The Veins
The superior vena cava
The superior vena cava collects the blood from the upper limbs and the head and neck. Through
the azygos system it anastomoses with the veins draining into the inferior vena cava. The superior
vena cava has a surface projection to
the right of the right edge of the sternum from the lower
border of the first to the lower border of the third right costal cartilage. It is formed by the
junction of the right and left brachiocephalic veins. It has no valves and receives only one
tributary, the azygos vein on its right posterior surface anterior to the upper right lobe pulmonary
artery.
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