The vena cavae drain blood from the body into the_____ .
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A
right atrium
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B
right ventricle
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C
left atrium
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D
left ventricle
The vena cavae drain blood from the body into the right atrium.
The superior and inferior vena cavae are the two large veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. This blood is then received by the right atrium, from where it is pumped into the right ventricle and sent to the lungs for oxygenation.
A. Right atrium
This is the correct answer. The superior and inferior vena cavae bring deoxygenated blood from the body into the right atrium of the heart. From there, the blood moves to the right ventricle, which pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation.
B. Right ventricle
The right ventricle receives blood from the right atrium, not directly from the vena cavae. The blood from the vena cavae first enters the right atrium before moving to the right ventricle.
C. Left atrium
The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins. It does not receive blood from the vena cavae, which carry deoxygenated blood. Therefore, this is not the correct answer.
D. Left ventricle
The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atrium and pumps it to the rest of the body via the aorta. It does not receive blood from the vena cavae.
Conclusion:
The vena cavae drain deoxygenated blood from the body into the right atrium, where it is then pumped into the right ventricle and sent to the lungs for oxygenation. The left atrium and left ventricle are involved in handling oxygenated blood, not deoxygenated blood from the vena cavae.

Topic Flashcards
Click to FlipWhere do the superior and inferior vena cavae empty their blood?
They deliver deoxygenated systemic venous blood directly into the right atrium for pulmonary circulation.
Which heart chamber receives blood from the vena cavae?
Right atrium — the vena cavae are the main veins returning low-oxygen blood from the body to the heart's right upper chamber.
Why is the left atrium not connected to the vena cavae?
Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from pulmonary veins (lungs); vena cavae carry deoxygenated systemic blood to the right side.
What happens to vena caval blood after entering the right atrium?
It passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, then pumped to lungs via pulmonary artery for oxygenation.
Why do the vena cavae drain into the right atrium and not the left?
They carry deoxygenated blood from systemic circulation; right atrium collects it before sending to right ventricle → lungs for oxygenation.