title: Anatomy of the superior vena cava and brachiocephalic veins.
abstract: The venous side of the systemic vascular circulation returns the left ventricular cardiac output in a converging fashion to the superior and inferior vena cava and hence to the right atrium. Oxygenated blood is returned to the left atrium. The volumes of these 2 systems are in balance in a normal physiologic state.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, St Joseph's Healthcare, Juravinski Innovation Tower, 2nd Floor, Room T2105J, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada.
authors.forename: W Frederick
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Fawaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Altaf
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deslauriers
mesh_terms: D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000098:blood supply; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000033:anatomy & histology*