Major Blood Vessels of the Body

Major Blood Vessels of the Body

• The body has large veins that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart
• Large arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body
• The brachiocephalic veins unite to form the superior vena cava
• The superior vena cava is formed by the union of two brachiocephalic veins
• The azygos veins drain the thoracic wall, carrying deoxygenated blood back to the heart
• Deep veins of the lower limbs include the inferior vena cava, common iliac, external iliac, femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial, and posterior tibial veins
• The great saphenous vein is a long superficial vein in the lower limb
• The median cubital vein and cephalic veins are superficial veins in the upper limbs
• The basilic veins are also located in the upper limb
• The main arteries of the head, neck, and face include the common carotid, external carotid, and internal carotid arteries
• The common carotid artery divides into the external and internal carotid arteries
• The subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery at the outer border of the first rib
• The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery at the lower the border of the teres major muscle
• The brachial artery divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, supplying the forearm and hand
• The abdominal aorta branches into the common iliac artery which further divides into the external and internal iliac arteries, then into the femoral, popliteal, anterior tibial, and posterior tibial arteries, and ending with the dorsalis pedis artery
• The aorta is a major arterial trunk, delivering oxygenated blood from the heart to various parts of the body
• It is divided into ascending, arch of the aorta, and descending thoracic/abdominal aorta
• The ascending aorta gives rise to the right and left coronary arteries
• The arch of the aorta has three major branches: the brachiocephalic artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery
• The descending thoracic aorta, a continuation of the arch, branches into posterior intercostal arteries
• The descending abdominal aorta gives rise to the celiac trunk, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries