Definition

A vein that carries blood from the upper part of the body to the heart.

Example

The surgeon carefully examined the precaval vein during the operation.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the precaval vein before?

No, I haven't. What is it?

It's a vein that carries blood to the heart, really important for circulation.

That sounds interesting! I should probably learn more about it.

Root Explanation

Precaval is formed from "pre-" (meaning before) and "caval" (from Latin "cavus", meaning hollow). The word refers to something that is situated or occurring before a hollow or cavity, often used in anatomical contexts.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pre-' meaning before and 'caval' relating to a hollow space — this helps you remember that 'precaval' refers to something that is located before a hollow area.

Visually Confused Words