Human Anatomy: Heart and Blood Vessels

Heart Structure and Blood Supply

• The heart has a superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary trunk, and coronary sulcus
• The coronary sulcus is a groove that separates the atria from the ventricles
• The heart has a right and left coronary artery, which supply blood to the heart muscle

Blood Supply of the Heart

• The right coronary artery supplies the right atrium, right ventricle, and posterior part of the left ventricle
• The left coronary artery supplies the left atrium, left ventricle, and anterior part of the left ventricle
• The circumflex artery is a branch of the left coronary artery that supplies the left atrium and left ventricle
• The anterior interventricular artery and posterior interventricular artery are branches of the left coronary artery that supply the anterior and posterior parts of the left ventricle, respectively

Venous Drainage of the Heart

• The coronary sinus is a vein that collects blood from the heart muscle and returns it to the right atrium
• The great cardiac vein and small cardiac vein are branches of the coronary sinus that drain the left and right ventricles, respectively
• The middle cardiac vein is a branch of the coronary sinus that drains the anterior part of the left ventricle

Arterial Supply of the Body

• The ascending aorta gives rise to the right and left coronary arteries
• The arch of the aorta gives rise to the brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery
• The brachiocephalic trunk gives rise to the right subclavian artery and right common carotid artery
• The subclavian artery gives rise to the vertebral artery, thyrocervical trunk, and internal thoracic artery
• The internal thoracic artery gives rise to the anterior intercostal arteries and posterior intercostal arteries

Cerebral Arteries

• The circle of Willis is a circle of arteries that supplies blood to the brain
• The anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior cerebral artery are branches of the circle of Willis that supply the anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the brain, respectively
• The vertebral artery and basilar artery are branches of the subclavian artery that supply the posterior part of the brain

Arterial Supply of the Upper Limb

• The subclavian artery gives rise to the axillary artery, which supplies the upper limb
• The axillary artery gives rise to the brachial artery, which supplies the arm
• The brachial artery gives rise to the radial artery and ulnar artery, which supply the forearm and hand
• The radial artery and ulnar artery give rise to the superficial palmar arch and deep palmar arch, which supply the palmar surface of the hand

Thoracic Aorta

• The thoracic aorta gives rise to the posterior intercostal arteries, which supply the posterior thoracic wall
• The thoracic aorta also gives rise to the esophageal arteries, bronchial arteries, and mediastinal arteries, which supply the esophagus, lungs, and mediastinum, respectively

Abdominal Aorta

• The abdominal aorta gives rise to the celiac trunk, which supplies the stomach, small intestine, and liver
• The abdominal aorta also gives rise to the superior mesenteric artery, which supplies the small intestine, and the inferior mesenteric artery, which supplies the large intestine
• The abdominal aorta gives rise to the renal arteries, which supply the kidneys, and the gonadal arteries, which supply the reproductive organs

Venous Drainage of the Body

• The superior vena cava returns blood from the upper part of the body to the right atrium
• The inferior vena cava returns blood from the lower part of the body to the right atrium
• The venous drainage of the head and neck is through the internal jugular vein and external jugular vein, which drain into the subclavian vein and brachiocephalic vein, respectively
• The venous drainage of the upper limb is through the brachial vein and cephalic vein, which drain into the subclavian vein and axillary vein, respectively