<Tr> <Th> FMA </Th> <Td> 10951 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Anatomical terminology (edit on Wikidata) </Td> </Tr> <P> The inferior vena cava (or IVC) (Latin: vena, "vein", cavus, "hollow") is a large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart . Its walls are rigid and has valves so the blood does not flow down via gravity . It is formed by the joining of the right and the left common iliac veins, usually at the level of the fifth lumbar vertebra . </P> <P> The inferior vena cava is the lower ("inferior") of the two venae cavae, the two large veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body: the inferior vena cava carries blood from the lower half of the body whilst the superior vena cava carries blood from the upper half of the body . </P>

Is the vena cava a vein or artery