cavae

Cavae is a Latin term meaning hollows or cavities. In modern anatomy, the word is most often encountered in Latinized names rather than as a standalone English noun. The best-known instance is venae cavae, the two great veins that return blood to the heart. The superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are the principal vessels usually referred to with this terminology. In Latin, vena cava denotes a hollow vein; venæ cavae is the plural form used when referring to both vessels together or when listing the two structures in Latin text.

Beyond the circulatory system, cavae can appear in descriptions of body cavities using Latin terms such as cavum oris (the oral cavity) and cavum nasi (the nasal cavity) in older or bilingual texts. In English-language anatomy, these are typically rendered as oral cavity and nasal cavity rather than using the plural form cavae.

General usage: cavae denotes hollowness or cavities in anatomical contexts, especially within compound terms and in historical literature. The term is less common as an independent English noun; modern textbooks generally use cavities or cavum as needed, while retaining vena cava and venæ cavae in their established forms.

Historical note: Latin and Greek roots have shaped anatomical vocabulary. Latin terms such as venae cavae persist in contemporary nomenclature, reflecting continuity with classical medical texts and the tradition of using Latin terminology in anatomical naming.