Cardiovascular System: Main Blood Vessels

Cardiovascular System: Main Blood Vessels

• The aorta arises from the left ventricle, distributing oxygenated blood to all body parts.
• The aorta's parts include the ascending aorta, aortic arch, thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta.
• Branches of the ascending aorta include the right and left coronary arteries.
• Branches of the aortic arch include the brachiocephalic trunk (dividing into the right subclavian artery and right common carotid artery), the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
• The abdominal aorta's major branches include the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and inferior mesenteric artery, and renal arteries and testicular arteries.

Carotid Arteries

• Common carotid arteries supply most of the head and neck.
• Common carotid arteries divide into external and internal carotid arteries.
• External carotid arteries supply tissues outside the brain and orbit.
• Internal carotid arteries supply the orbits and most of the cerebrum.
• Near the temporomandibular joint, the external carotid artery divides into the superficial temporal and maxillary arteries.

Vertebral Arteries

• Vertebral arteries supply the posterior brain.
• These arise from the subclavian arteries.
• The circle of Willis is an arterial anastomosis around this area providing alternate blood routes.
• The circle of Willis helps if either the carotid or vertebral arteries are blocked.

Arteries of the Upper Limb

• The axillary artery branches into the brachial artery.
• The brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries.

Arteries of the Lower Limb

• The external iliac artery becomes the femoral artery.
• The femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery.
• The popliteal artery divides into the anterior tibial and posterior tibial arteries.

Major Veins of Systemic Circulation

• The superior vena cava drains the upper body's blood.
• The inferior vena cava drains the lower body's blood.
• Both empty deoxygenated blood into the right atrium.

Portal Circulation

• Arteries supplying intestines become capillaries containing nutrient-rich blood.
• Portal vein collects this blood and carries it to the liver for nutrient metabolism.
• Blood in the portal vein then becomes capillaries in the liver.
• These capillaries form hepatic veins carrying blood without nutrients.
• The hepatic vein empties into the inferior vena cava, returning blood to the heart.

Classification of Veins

• Systemic veins drain systemic circulation returning deoxygenated blood to the heart.
• Pulmonary veins return oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart.
• Systemic veins branch into veins of head & neck, abdomen & thorax, upper limb, and lower limb.

Veins of the Head and Neck

• Venous drainage from the face is entirely superficial.
• All venous drainage from the head and neck terminates in the subclavian vein.
• Subclavian veins join the brachiocephalic vein behind the clavicle.
• Two brachiocephalic veins unite to form the superior vena cava.

Head & Neck Veins: Groups

• External group includes internal jugular, external jugular, anterior jugular, oblique jugular, and posterior external jugular veins.
• Internal Group includes venous sinuses, emissary veins, and diploic veins.

Internal Jugular Veins

• Internal jugular veins are deep veins of head and neck.
• They drain blood from the head and neck returning the blood to the brachiocephalic vein.
• Internal jugular veins join to form the brachiocephalic veins.