Inferior Venacava (IVC) Tributaries and Abdominal Aorta Branches : Mnemonic

Inferior Venacava (IVC) Tributaries

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1. common Iliac veins (L5) – Origin or Formation

• Median sacral vein ends in left common iliac vein or the junction of 2 common iliac veins

2. Lumbar veins (L1-L5)

3. Testicular/gonadal veins – right (L2)

4. Renal veins (L1)

• Since the IVC is not a midline structure, there is a degree of asymmetry of drainage, e.g. the gonadal and suprarenal veins drain into the IVC on the right side, but into the left renal vein on the left.

5. Suprarenal veins – right (L1)

6. Inferior phrenic veins (T8)

7. Hepatic veins (T8)

Abdominal Aorta Branches

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Branches	Group	Level
Celiac artery	Anterior visceral	T12
Superior mesenteric artery	“	L1
Inferior mesenteric artery	“	L3
Suprarenal artery – middle (1 pair)	Lateral visceral	T12
Renal artery (1 pair)	“	L1
Internal spermatic or ovarian artery (1 pair)	“	L2
Inferior phrenic artery (1 pair)	Lateral abdominal	T12
Lumbar artery (4 paired)	Lateral abdominal/Dorsal	L1-L4
Median sacral artery	Terminal/Dorsal	L4
Common iliac arteries (1 pair)	Terminal	L4

Superior suprarenal artery originates from Inferior phrenic artery.

Inferior suprarenal artery originates from Renal artery.

Right renal artery passes behind the IVC.

Relationship of abdominal aorta with inferior vena cava

Abdominal aorta travels on left.

IVC travels on right side parallelly, and both can be considered counterparts.

Above the level of the umbilicus:

• Aorta is posterior to IVC:
  • Right renal artery (longer) travels behind IVC.
  • Left renal vein (longer) travels anterior to aorta.

Below the level of the umbilicus:

• Aorta is anterior to IVC:
  • Common iliac arteries are anterior and lateral in relation to common iliac veins.
  • Right common iliac artery (longer) travels anterior to left common iliac vein (longer)