1. the large vein that returns blood from the upper part of the body to the right atrium of the heart
Usage: anatomy; medical

Examples

• The precava carries deoxygenated blood from the head and arms back to the heart.
• During the cardiac catheterization, the doctor inserted the tube through the precava.
• The precava is one of the two main veins that empty into the right atrium.
• Blood flows from the upper body through the precava to complete circulation.
• The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the precava during the procedure.
• In medical imaging, the precava appears as a large vessel near the heart.