The superior and inferior venae cavae are the veins that return the blood from the body into the heart. They both empty into the right atrium.

The inferior vena cava travels up alongside the abdominal aorta with blood from the lower part of the body.

The superior vena cava is above the heart, and forms from a convergence of the left and right brachiocephalic veins that contain blood from the head and the arms.