Final answer:
The superior vena cava does not pass through the diaphragm at the level of T8; this is false. The inferior vena cava passes through the caval opening of the diaphragm at T8 level, not the SVC.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the superior vena cava (SVC) passes through the diaphragm at the level of T8 is false. Instead, it is the inferior vena cava (IVC) that passes through the caval opening of the diaphragm. The diaphragm includes three main openings: the IVC passes through the caval opening at the level of T8, the esophagus and vagal trunks through the esophageal hiatus at the level of T10, and the aorta, thoracic duct, and azygous vein through the aortic hiatus at the level of T12. The SVC is not one of the structures that traverses the diaphragm.