/vee"neuh kay"veuh/ , pl. venae cavae /vee"nee kay"vee/ . Anat.
either of two large veins discharging blood into the right atrium of the heart, one (superior vena cava or precava) conveying blood from the head, chest, and upper extremities and the other (inferior vena cava or postcava) conveying blood from all parts below the diaphragm. See diag. under heart .
[ 1590-1600; vena cava hollow vein ]