The term VENA CAVA is a four-letter medical term referring to a passage to the heart. It is composed of two Latin words, 'VENA' meaning vein and 'CAVA' meaning hollow. The VENA CAVA is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart. It is divided into two parts, the superior VENA CAVA and the inferior VENA CAVA. The superior VENA CAVA carries blood from the head, neck, arms, and chest, while the inferior VENA CAVA carries blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and lower limbs.