Vena Cava Ultrasound Anatomy

Vena cava ultrasound anatomy is presented here as a labeled cross-sectional atlas. Every view pairs a color-coded anatomy diagram with the matching real ultrasound image, so you can learn the expected shape and position of the vena cava and then recognise it on a real scan.
In the atlas legend the vena cava belongs to the veins group and is shown in a consistent colour wherever it appears. The small body marker on each card shows where the transducer sits for that view, which makes it easier to reproduce the image at the bedside.
Vena cava across the atlas
Passage of aorta and vena cava through diaphragm
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Left gastric artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Celiac trunk
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Celiac trunk
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Hepatic artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Splenic artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Superior mesenteric artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Superior mesenteric artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Superior mesenteric artery and splenic vein
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Left renal vein and right renal artery
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Suprarenal Transverse Sections, Including the Renal Vessels · Transverse plane


Infrarenal aorta and vena cava
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Infrarenal aorta and vena cava
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Infrarenal aorta and vena cava
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Infrarenal aorta, vena cava, superior mesenteric artery and vein
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Infrarenal aorta and vena cava
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Aortic bifurcation
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Iliac arteries
Vessels / Aorta and Vena Cava in Infrarenal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Hepatic artery and portal vein
Vessels / Hepatic Artery in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Vena cava and right renal artery
Vessels / Renal Artery and Vein in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Opening of renal vein
Vessels / Right Renal Artery and Vein in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Renal vein
Vessels / Right Renal Artery and Vein in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Renal vein at hilum, renal artery
Vessels / Right Renal Artery and Vein in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Renal artery
Vessels / Right Renal Artery and Vein in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Vena cava
Vessels / Left Renal Artery and Vein in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Portal vein, vena cava, right renal artery, and bile duct
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Portal vein, vena cava, and bile duct
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Portal vein and hepatic artery
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Hepatic artery, portal vein, vena cava
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Hepatic artery, bile duct, portal vein
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Bile duct, gallbladder, vena cava
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Bile duct, gallbladder, superior mesenteric vein
Vessels / Vessels of the Porta Hepatis in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, ligamentum teres, boundary between lateral and medial segments, caudate lobe
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Left hepatic vein, ligamentum teres, boundary between lateral and medial segments, caudate lobe
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Left hepatic vein, ligamentum teres, boundary between lateral and medial segments, caudate lobe
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Left hepatic vein, ligamentum teres, boundary between lateral and medial segments, caudate lobe
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Medial segment, subsegment IV, quadrate lobe
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Gallbladder, portal vein, vena cava, boundary between medial and anterior segments
Liver / Liver in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, heart
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, hepatic veins
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, caudate lobe
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, caudate lobe
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, left portal vein branch
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, lateral segment, ligamentum teres
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left lobe of liver, subsegment III, ligamentum teres
Liver / Left Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, opening of hepatic veins
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, opening of hepatic veins
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, hepatic veins, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, hepatic veins, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, left portal vein branch, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, left portal vein branch, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, left portal vein branch, caudate lobe
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, bifurcation of portal vein
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, bifurcation of portal vein
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, right portal vein branch
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, right and left portal vein branches
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, right and left portal vein branches
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, quadrate lobe, ligamentum teres, portal vein
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, quadrate lobe, ligamentum teres, portal vein
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Medial and anterior hepatic segments, quadrate lobe, ligamentum teres, gallbladder
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Inferior border of liver, kidney, gallbladder, ligamentum teres
Liver / Central Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Posterior segment, cranial subsegment
Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Posterior segment, portal vein
Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Posterior segment, caudal subsegment, kidney
Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Posterior segment, inferior border
Liver / Right Portions of the Liver in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Right portal vein branch, ligamentum venosum
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Gallbladder neck
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Junction of neck and body of gallbladder
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Body of gallbladder
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Gallbladder fundus
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Gallbladder fundus, inferior border
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Upper Abdominal Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Vena cava, duodenum, bifurcation of portal vein
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Right portal vein branch, duodenum, gallbladder body
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Right portal vein branch, body and neck of gallbladder
Gallbladder / Gallbladder in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Head of pancreas, bile duct
Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Head of pancreas, bile duct
Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Head of pancreas, hilar vessels, vena cava
Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Head of pancreas, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process
Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Head of pancreas, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process
Pancreas / Pancreas in Longitudinal Sections · Longitudinal plane


Section cranial to head of pancreas, vena cava, splenic vein
Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, common bile duct
Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Head of pancreas, vena cava, superior mesenteric vein, uncinate process, gallbladder
Pancreas / Head of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Scan cranial to body of pancreas, celiac trunk
Pancreas / Body of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Body of pancreas, splenic vein
Pancreas / Body of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Body of pancreas, splenic vein, superior mesenteric artery, aorta
Pancreas / Body of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Left renal artery and vein, superior mesenteric artery and vein, aorta
Pancreas / Body of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Tail of pancreas, splenic artery
Pancreas / Tail of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Tail of pancreas, splenic vein
Pancreas / Tail of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Tail of pancreas, gas in stomach
Pancreas / Tail of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Tail of pancreas
Pancreas / Tail of the Pancreas in Transverse Sections · Transverse plane


Kidney, liver, psoas muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle
Kidneys / Transverse Flank Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Kidney, liver, psoas muscle, quadratus lumborum muscle
Kidneys / Transverse Flank Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Kidney, renal vein, colon
Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Right Kidney from Right to Left · Longitudinal plane


Kidney, renal vein, vena cava, liver
Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Kidney, renal vein, renal artery, vena cava, liver
Kidneys / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Kidney from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Adrenal gland, vena cava, renal artery
Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Right to Left · Longitudinal plane


Kidney, vena cava
Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane


Kidney, renal vein, vena cava
Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane


Renal vein, vena cava
Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane


Adrenal gland, vena cava
Adrenal Glands / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Right Adrenal Gland from Below Upward · Transverse plane


Layers of adrenal gland
Adrenal Glands / Details of the Adrenal Glands


Layers of adrenal gland
Adrenal Glands / Details of the Adrenal Glands


Esophagus, aorta, liver
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Gastric Cardia from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Cardia, aorta, liver
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Gastric Cardia from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Cardia, body of stomach, aorta, liver
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Gastric Cardia from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Pylorus, pancreas, liver
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane


Duodenal bulb, liver, vena cava
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane


Duodenum, gallbladder, vena cava
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Longitudinal Scans of the Stomach from Left to Right · Longitudinal plane


Antrum, liver, pancreas
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Antrum and Duodenum from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Antrum, duodenum, liver, pancreas, gallbladder
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Antrum and Duodenum from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Antrum, duodenum, liver, pancreas, gallbladder
Stomach / Upper Abdominal Transverse Scans of the Antrum and Duodenum from Above Downward · Transverse plane


Anatomy diagrams, ultrasound images and probe positions are part of the Ultrasound Anatomy atlas. Colours follow the atlas legend, grouping vessels, organs and other structures by type.