Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

Which vein returns blood to the heart from the upper half of the body?

1. Inferior vena cava

2. Coronary sinus

3. Superior vena cava

4. Femoral vein

The correct answer is: Superior vena cava

The superior vena cava is the large vein responsible for returning deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body, which includes the head, neck, arms, and upper chest, back to the right atrium of the heart. When blood circulates through the body, it delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues before collecting waste products. The blood from the upper regions is funneled into the superior vena cava, ensuring that this deoxygenated blood is directed back to the heart for reoxygenation in the lungs. In contrast, the inferior vena cava serves the lower half of the body, collecting blood from regions such as the legs, pelvis, and abdomen. The coronary sinus specifically returns blood from the myocardium (heart muscle) itself, while the femoral vein, which is located in the thigh, is also involved in returning blood from the lower extremities to the heart but does not affect the upper portion of the body. Thus, the superior vena cava plays a critical role in the efficient circulatory system by managing the flow of blood from the upper regions back to the heart.