Vena caval foramen

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody on 27 Jul 2022

The vena caval foramen is one of the three major apertures in the diaphragm. It is the highest of the three and situated at the level of T8-9. It is quadrilateral and placed at the junction of the right and middle leaflets of the central tendon.

It transmits several structures between the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

The vertebral levels of the 3 main diaphragmatic apertures can be remembered by this mnemonic.

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