Relating to or affected by a vena cava, one of the large veins carrying blood to the heart.
From Latin 'cavus' meaning 'hollow,' combined with the '-al' suffix forming adjectives. Used primarily in medical terminology to describe conditions or surgeries involving the vena cava. The medical use became standardized in the 19th century with the growth of modern anatomy.
A 'caval filter' is a lifesaving device that doctors place in the vena cava to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart—it's one of those brilliant medical solutions named perfectly because it describes exactly what it does: it's a filter in the caval vein.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.