[TA] the vein that drains the substance of the diaphragm and empties on the right side into the inferior vena cava, on the left side into the left suprarenal vein; often a second vein on the left side passes transversely across the diaphragm anterior to the esophageal hiatus to enter the inferior vena cava. SYN: vena phrenica inferior [TA].
