The valve of the inferior vena cava (Eustachian valve) is a crescent-shaped fold at the opening of the inferior vena cava into the right atrium. Before birth it directs oxygen-rich blood from the placenta towards the foramen ovale; after birth it is a small remnant of variable size.
| Location | Anterior margin of the opening of the inferior vena cava in the right atrium |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Cardiac plexus |
| Blood Supply | Right coronary artery branches |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
In the fetus, guides placental blood across the foramen ovale to the left side of the heart; after birth it has no important function.
A prominent Eustachian valve can be mistaken for a mass or thrombus on echocardiography and may hinder catheter procedures from the groin. Rarely it becomes infected or holds a clot.
Rare infection of the valve, usually in people who inject drugs or have intravenous lines.
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