Page 73 - Virtual Vascular Vol 11

Three-dimensional CT reconstruction of the aorta and inferior vena cava, showing the left-sided inferior
vena cava, crossing to the right side of the aorta at the level of the renal vein. This is a normal
developmental variant.

IVC2.mp4

MALFORMATIONS of the inferior vena cava include:

• Agenesis (absence) of IVC- when the right subcardinal vein fail to make its
connection with the liver and shunts blood directly into the right supracardinal
vein. Thus, blood from the caudal part of the body reaches the heart via the

azygos and superior vena cava and the hepatic vein enters the right atrium at the
site of the inferior vena cava
• An abnormality of position of / segments of the vein may affect the adjacent

organs, such as the ureter, compressing it and causing a hydronephrosis
• Double inferior vena cava at the lumbar region: the left sacro-cardinal vein fail to
lose its connection with the left subcardinal, and the left common iliac vein may
or may not be present. The left renal vein may also be in retro-aortic in 5% of

cases.

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Pansky B. Review of medical embryology. Chapter 126. Development of The Venous System: The Inferior Vena Cava