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Question 667
Anatomy → Region
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
At which vertebral level does the inferior vena cava pass through the diaphragm?
Question Stem
Select the single best answer.
Options
A
T6
B
T8
C
T10
D
T12
E
L1
Explanation
The inferior vena cava enters the thorax through the caval opening of the diaphragm opposite the T8 vertebra, just to the right of the midline.
Option Validity
A) The caval opening is described at T8, not T6.
C) T10 is the level of the oesophageal aperture.
D) T12 is not the level of the caval opening.
E) The inferior vena cava passes through the diaphragm above the lumbar vertebral levels.
Further Reading
Saxena R. Textbook for MRCOG-1. Chapter 2: Anatomy, pp.10–12.