ˌvēnəˈkāvə noun
( plural ve·nae ca·vae ˌvēnēˈkā(ˌ)vē)
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, hollow vein
: one of the large veins by which in air-breathing vertebrates the blood is returned to the right atrium of the heart, which develop in part from and replace in function the cardinal veins and ducts of Cuvier of the embryo, and which commonly occur as two anterior venae cavae returning blood from the head and forelimbs and one posterior vena cava returning blood from the posterior parts of the body and the viscera