Caval opening

Caval opening

Infobox Anatomy
Name = PAGENAME
Latin = foramen venae cavae
GraySubject = 117
GrayPage = 406


Caption = The diaphragm. Under surface. (Vena caval foramen labeled near top center, in white region.)


Caption2 = Superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, azygos vein and their tributaries.
System =
MeshName =
MeshNumber =
DorlandsPre = f_12
DorlandsSuf = 12373793
The caval opening is a hiatus in the diaphragm of humans through which passes the inferior vena cava, the wall of which is adherent to the margins of the opening, and some branches of the right phrenic nerve.

It is located approximately at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra (T8), and passes through the diaphragm's central tendon.

It is quadrilateral in form, and is placed at the junction of the right and middle leaflets of the central tendon, so that its margins are tendinous.

By being situated in the tendinous part of the diaphragm, it is stretched open every time inspiration occurs.

Since thoracic pressure decreases upon inspiration and draws the caval blood upwards toward the right atrium, increasing the size of the opening allows more blood to return to the heart, maximizing the efficacy of lowered thoracic pressure returning blood to the heart.

External links

*
* - "Major Openings in the Diaphragm"


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • caval opening — foramen venae cavae …   Medical dictionary

  • opening — A gap in or entrance to an organ, tube, or cavity. SEE ALSO: aperture, fossa, ostium, orifice, pore. access o. SYN: access. aortic o. SYN: aortic hiatus …   Medical dictionary

  • Foramen — A natural opening. Although a foramen is usually through bone, it can be an opening through other types of tissue, as with the foramen ovale. * * * An aperture or perforation through a bone or a membranous structure. SYN: trema (1). [L. an… …   Medical dictionary

  • Thoracic diaphragm — diaphragm Respiratory system Latin diaphragma Artery Pericardiacophrenic artery …   Wikipedia

  • Мышцы груди и живота — …   Атлас анатомии человека

  • Inferior vena cava — Infobox Vein | Name = PAGENAME Latin = vena cava inferior GraySubject = 173 GrayPage = 677 Image Heart diagram 250px Caption = Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate normal blood flow. Caption2 = DrainsFrom = Source =… …   Wikipedia

  • foramen venae cavae — [TA] caval opening: the opening in the diaphragm that transmits the inferior vena cava and some branches of the right vagus nerve. Called also caval f …   Medical dictionary

  • Crus of diaphragm — The diaphragm. Under surface. (Left crus and right crus are at bottom center.) Deep …   Wikipedia

  • Central tendon of diaphragm — Infobox Anatomy Name = PAGENAME Latin = centrum tendineum diaphragmatis GraySubject = 117 GrayPage = 406 Caption = The diaphragm. Under surface. (Central tendon visible as large white central arch.) Caption2 = The thoracic aspect of the diaphragm …   Wikipedia

  • Medial arcuate ligament — The diaphragm. Under surface. (Med. arcuate ligament visible at bottom center left.) Latin ligamentum arcuatum mediale Gray s …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”