Arteries and veins

This Link shows what the arteries actually look like on a living person in surgery

Learning Objectives

Identify all the major arteries and veins of the circulatory system and show how they
connect.

Trace a drop of blood from your left middle toe to your right middle finger.

Describe the structure of arteries and veins and explain the difference between the two.

Explain the significance of blood being contained within a closed system

How your heart works. How stuff works/heart

The circulatory system is extremely important for sustaining life. Its proper functioning is
responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to all cells, as well as the removal of
carbon dioxide and waste products, maintenance of optimum pH, and the mobility of the
elements, proteins and cells of the immune system. myocardial infarction and stroke each may
directly result from an arterial system that has been slowly and progressively compromised by
years of deterioration.

VEINS
Veins function to return poorly oxygenated blood to the heart, and are essentially tubes that
collapse when their lumen are not filled with blood. The thick, outer-most layer of a vein is
made of collagen, wrapped in bands of smooth muscle while the interior is lined with
epithelial cells called intima. Most veins have one-way flaps called venous valves that prevent
blood from flowing back and pooling in the lower extremities due to the effects of gravity.
The precise location of veins is much more variable from person to person than that of
arteries.

ARTERIES
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart (as opposed to veins, blood
vessels carrying blood toward the heart). All arteries, with the exception of the pulmonary and
umbilical arteries, carry oxygenated blood.

The artery is has three layers: A muscular middle which is very elastic and strong, an
outer layer of tissue, and an inner layer of smooth epithelial cells that allow the blood
to flow easily.

The muscular wall of the artery actually helps the heart to pump blood. When your
heart beats the artery expands with blood. Because the artery keeps pace with the heart

you can actually measure how many heart beats

per minute you have by counting the
contractions of the artery (pulse rate)

Arteries also deliver oxygen rich blood to the

capillaries where the actual exchange of of
carbon dioxide and oxygen happen.
Looking at the image you can see that they
have different wall thicknesses. The capillary
wall is only 1 cell thick - this is to allow
substances to diffuse across it(ie to give oxygen
to cells and retrieve the CO2 from cells. One of
the reason the blood is at higher pressure in the
arteries is that there is a thick muscle layer and
this creates a small volume for the blood to pass through. The thick muscle layer is
there to withstand the high pressure. In the veins, the semilunar valves stop the blood
from flowing backwards, as it is traveling at a very low pressure and is often moving
against gravity. The contraction of the muscles also helps the blood in the veins to be
pushed up.

Looking at this image you can see that they have different wall thicknesses. The
capillary wall is only 1 cell thick - this is to allow substances to diffuse across it(ie to
give oxygen to cells and retrieve the CO2 from cells. One of the reason the blood is at
higher pressure in the arteries is that there is a thick muscle layer and this creates a
small volume for the blood to pass through. The thick muscle layer is there to
withstand the high pressure. In the veins, the semilunar valves stop the blood from
flowing backwards, as it is traveling at a very low pressure and is often moving
against gravity. The contraction of the muscles also helps the blood in the veins to be
pushed up.

The outermost layer is known as the tunica externa and is composed of connective tissue.
Inside this layer is the tunica media, or media, which is made up of smooth muscle cells and
elastic tissue. The innermost layer, which is in direct contact with the flow of blood is the
tunica intima. This layer is made up of mainly endothelial cells. The hollow internal cavity in
which the blood flows is called the lumen.

Aorta
The
aorta is
the root
systemic
artery. It
receives
blood
directly
from the
left
ventricle
of the
heart via
the
aortic
valve. As
the aorta

branches, and these arteries branch in turn, they become successively smaller in diameter,
down to the arteriole. The arterioles supply capillaries which in turn empty into venules.

The Next Section will explore major arteries

and veins,
by body region.
General arterial flow out of the heart

Oxygenated blood is pumped out of the heart by the left ventricle and then enters the
ascending aorta. (The left and right coronary arteries branch off directly from the walls
of the ascending aorta.)

The ascending aorta then curves towards the left side of the body and forms the aortic
arch. ( Three main arteries branch from the aortic arch they are 1. brachiocephalic
trunk, 2. left common carotid and 3. left subclavian.

The aortic arch then projects inferiorly to form the descending thoracic aorta. ( The
descending thoracic aorta then gives rise to the descending abdominal aorta, which
separates into the left and right common illiac arteries.)

General venous return to the heart.

The veins that bring the poorly oxygenated blood back to the heart often share the
same names as the arteries that take the oxygenated blood to the same area.

The left and right brachiocephalic veins drain the blood from the head, neck and upper
limbs.

The left and right brachiocephalic veins then merge to form the superior vena cava,
which drains directly into the right atrium of the heart.

All of the veins inferior to the diaphragm merge to form the inferior vena cava, which
also drains directly into the right atrium.

Blood flow to the head and neck.

The left and right common carotid arteries supply most of the blood to the head and
neck.

The travel parallel and immediately lateral to the trachea.

At the superior border of the thyroid cartilage each artery divides into an external and
internal carotid artery the external supplying the structures external to the skull and the
internal supplying the internal structures of the skull.

The external carotid artery supplies blood to several branches

1. superior thyroid artery. ( supplies thyroid gland, larynx, and some anterior neck
muscles.)
2. ascending pharyngeal artery. (supplies the pharynx.)
3. lingual artery.
(supplies the
tongue.)
4. facial artery.
(supplies most of the
facial region.)
5. occipital artery.
(supplies the
posterior portion of
the scalp.)
6. posterior auricular
artery. (supplies the
ear and the scalp
around the ear.)
7. maxillary artery.
(supplies the teeth,
gums, nasal cavity,
and meninges.)
8. superficial temporal artery. (supplies the side of the head and the parotid gland.)

Venous return from the head and neck.

The venous return is accomplished through several smaller veins that merge to form
the facial, superficial temporal, and maxillary veins.

These veins then merge and drain into either the internal jugular vein or the external
jugular vein, which drain into the subclavian vein and then into the brachiocephalic
vein and then into the superior vena cava.

Blood flow through the cranium

The internal carotid artery splits once it enters the carotid canal.

It forms the anterior and middle cerebral arteries, which supply the brain and the
ophthalmic arteries which supply the eyes.

The vertebral arteries form from the subclavian arteries before they enter the skull
through the foramen magnum. Once inside the skull they merge and form the basilar
artery.

The basilar artery subdivides into many branches that are called the posterior
cerebral arteries. (supply the cerebrum.)

The other major structure in the cranium is the cerebral arterial circle. This circle
equalizes the blood pressure in the brain and can provide alternate channels should a
vessel become blocked.

Venous return from the cranium

Blood is drained from the cranium through several large veins called dural venous
sinuses.(there are no valves in the dural venous sinus system so blood can potentially
flow in more than one direction.)

There are several components to the dural venous sinus system and they are:

1. Superior sagital sinus. (drains into one of the transverse sinuses usually the right
one.)
2. Inferior sagital sinus. (occupies the interior free edge of the falx cerebri.)
3. Straight sinus. (formed by the merging of the inferior sagital sinus and the great
cerebral vein.)
4. Left and Right transverse sinuses. (these run horizontally along the internal margin
of the occipital bone.)
5. Left and Right sigmoid sinuses. (these are a continuation of the transverse sinuses
and they drain into the internal jugular veins.)

The internal jugular veins and subclavian veins merge to form the brachiocephalic
veins and drain into the superior vena cava.

Blood flow through the abdominal cavity

Left and Right internal thoracic arteries emerge from the Left and Right
subclavian arteries.

Each internal thoracic artery has the following branches.

1. Anterior intercostal arteries which supply the anterior intercostal
spaces.
2. Musculophrenic artery which supplies the diaphragm.
3. Superior epigastric artery which supplies the superior abdominal
wall.
4. Inferior epigastric artery which supplies the inferior abdominal wall.

Left andRight costocervical trunks and thyrocervical trunks emerge from the
subclavian arteries as well.

These arteries together form a horizontal vessel arc that spans a segment of the
thoracic wall.

There are also five pairs of lumbar arteries and a median sacral artery that supply
the lower portion of the thorax.

Venous drainage from the abdominal cavity

Anterior intercostal veins, a superior epigastric vein, and a musculophrenic vein

merge to form the internal thoracic vein.

Each of the internal thoracic veins drains into its respective brachiocephalic vein.

The inferior epigastric vein merges with the external illiac vein and then drains into
the inferior vena cava.

Blood flow through the thoracic organs

Lungs
Bronchial arteries: supplies the lungs
Bronchial veins: drains blood from the lungs

Here is an article (from Access DNA) about Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Esophagus
Esophageal arteries: supplies the esophagus
Esophageal veins: drain the esophageal wall.
above the abdominal cavity
Esophageal branches: supplies the
esophagus in the abdominal cavity.

Diaphragm
Superior phrenic arteries: supply the
diaphragm

Superior phrenic veins: drain the diaphragm

into the inferior vena cava

Musculophrenic arteries: supply the

diaphragm

Inferior phrenic veins: drain the diaphragm

into the inferior vena cava.

Inferior phrenic arteries: supply the

diaphragm

Musculophrenic veins: drain the diaphragm

into the internal thoracic veins.

Blood flow through the GI tract

Celiac trunk: supplies the stomach, the liver, Heptic portal vein: receives poorly
the spleen, and parts of the duodenum and
oxygenated blood from the gastrointestinal
pancreas.
organs.
Left and Right gastric artery: supplies the
lesser curvature of the stomach.

Inferior mesenteric vein: drains the distal

part of the large intestine, receives blood from
the superior rectal vein, sigmoid, veins, and
the left colic vein.

Splenic artery: supplies the spleen and part

of the stomach.

Splenic vein: drains the spleen, receives

blood from pancreatic veins, short gastric
veins, and the right gastroepiploic vein.

Common hepatic artery: supplies the liver.

Superior mesenteric vein:drains the small

intestine and part of the large intestine. It

receives blood from the intestinal veins,

pancreaticoduodenal veins, ileocolic vein, and
right and middle colic veins.
Gastroduodenal artery: supplies the lesser
Hepatic artery proper: supplies the liver via
curvature of the stomach, the duodenum, and
left and right hepatic arteries.
the pancreas.
Superior mesenteric artery: supplies most
Intestinal arteries: supply the jejunum and
of the small intestine, part of the pancreas and
ileum
part of the large intestine.
Ileocolic artery: supplies the ileum, cecum,
and the appendix.

Right colic artery: supplies the ascending

colon.

Middle colic artery: supplies most of the

transverse colon.

Inferior mesenteric artery: immediately

branches into smaller arteries.

Left colic artery: supplies distal part of the

transverse colon and part of the descending
colon.

Sigmoid arteries: supply the inferior

descending colon and the sigmoid colon.

Blood flow through pelvis

Middle artery: supplies each adrenal gland.

Middle suprarenal vein: drains each adrenal

gland.

Renal artery: supplies each kidney.

Renal vein: drains each kidney.

Gonadal artery: supplies each gonad.(testes

Gonadal vein: drains each gonad.
in males and ovaries in females.)
Internal illiac artery: supplies the pelvis and Internal illiac vein: drains the pelvis and
perineum.
perineum.
Superior gluteal arteries: supply the gluteal Superior gluteal veins: drain the gluteal
region.
region.
Inferior gluteal arteries: supply the gluteal
region.

Inferior gluteal veins: drain the gluteal

region.

Obturator artery: supplies the medial

muscles of the thigh.

Obturator vein: drains the medial muscles of

the thigh.

Interpudenal artery: supplies the anal canal Interpudenal vein: drains the anal canal and
and the perineum.
the perineum.
Middle rectal artery: supplies the lower
portion of the rectum.

Middle rectal vein: drains the lower portion

of the rectum.

Uterine and Vaginal arteries: supply the

uterus and vagina in females.

Uterine and Vaginal veins: drain the uterus

and vagina in females.

Blood flow through the upper limb

Subclavian artery: supplies each of the
upper limbs.

Basilic vein: runs adjacent to the medial

surface of the upper limb drains the dorsal
venous network. Superficial vein.

Cephalic vein: runs alongside the lateral

Axillary artery: extends into many branches
aspect of the upper limb also drains the dorsal
as it passes the shoulder region.
venous network. Superficial vein.

Brachial artery: branches into the deep

brachial artery and supplies blood to most of
the brachial muscles.

Median cubital vein: connects the basilic

and cephalic veins and is a common site for
venipuncture.

Radial artery: runs along the radius and

supplies blood to the forearm and wrist.

Radial veins: run along side the radial artery

and drain blood from the palmar arches.

Ulnar artery: runs along the ulna and

supplies the forearm and wrist.

Ulnar veins: run alongside the unlar artery

and drain the palmar arches.

Superficial palmar arch: formed from the

Brachial veins: travel with the brachial artery
ulnar artery and supplies blood to the palm of
and drain the radial and ulnar veins.
the hand.
Deep palmar arch: formed from the radial
artery and supplies the hand.

Axillary vein: brachial and basilic veins

merge to form this vein.

Digital arteries: emerge from the arches to

supply the fingers.

Subclavian vein: axillary vein is remaned

this once it passes the lateral border of the
first rib.

Blood flow through the lower limb

Femoral artery: branches to form the deep
femoral artery and supplies the hip joint and
many of the thigh muscles.

Great and Small sephenous veins:

superficial veins that drain the dorsal venous
arch. The great sephenous vein drains into the
femoral vein and the small sephenous vein
drains into the popliteal vein.

Popliteal artery: supplies the knee joint and

Medial and Lateral plantar veins: drain the

the muscles in this region.

digital and deep veins of the foot.

Anterior tibial artery: supplies the anterior

compartment of the leg.

Posterior tibial veins: drain the medial and

lateral plantar veins.

Posterior tibial artery: supplies the posterior Fibular veins: drain the plantar surface of the
compartment of the leg.
foot.
Fibular artery: supplies the lateral
compartment of the leg.

Anterior tibial veins: drain the deep veins of

the ankle and dorsum of the foot.

Medial and Lateral plantar arteries: supply Popliteal vein: drains the knee joint and the
the foot.
muscles there.
Digital arteries: supply the toes.

Femoral vein: drains the deep veins of the

lower leg once they pass the popliteal region.

Development
There are differences in the fetus circulatory system and that of an average adults. Fetal lungs
do not rely on the exchange of gases and oxygenated blood because it is supplied from the
umbilical cord attached to the placenta in the mother's womb.

The venous duct is connects the umbilical veins that lead from the placenta to the vena
cava of the fetus. Oxygenated blood from the placenta travels into the umbilical veins
through the venous duct into the vena cava and mixes with the poorly oxygenated
blood of the fetus.

The opening between the Right and left Atria

is called the oval opening. It allows blood
from both sides of the heart to mix and
allows blood to enter pulmonary circulation
directly.

The arterial duct is the connection between

pulmonary artery and aorta that allow the
blood to bypass the the non-functioning
lungs of the fetus.

The umbilical arteries and veins are vessels that carry the waste and oxygen from the
placenta. The veins are the main oxygen carries to the fetus from the placenta and the
arteries are the main waste movers.

Fun Fact

Did you know that if you took the blood vessels out of a child and laid it out in a
straight line it would be over 60,000 miles long!

In late-nineteenth-century France there was an individual known as "I'homme prote,"

or the "protean man." He had exceptional control over all his muscles and could
protrude or distort any part of himself at will. He could harden the muscles of his
stomach so that if hit with a hammer they would not recoil. He could distend his
abdomen to create the appearance of enormous obesity or draw it in until he looked
like a living skeleton. According to Quatretages, a celebrated French physician of the
time, I'homme prote could shut off all the blood from the right side of his body and
control the beating of his heart, feats he credited to his great Muscular Control.

Blood is always red - bright red when it is oxygenated and a darker red when it's
lacking oxygen. Deoxygenated blood just **looks** blue because you're seeing it
through your skin.

In the News & Case study

This is contrast x-ray taken of the kidneys and the mighty aorta

surgeons use abdominal vein to treat brain artery blockage

Prosthetic vein valve shows promise for chronic venous insufficiency

Here is a Utah story of a little boy whose femoral artery and vein were cut by shrapnel
from a homemade firework

Glossary
Connections to other body systems
The cardiovascular system transports gases between the lungs and body cells, while the
respiratory system exchanges gases between the atmosphere and blood.

This diagram shows the connection between the cardiovascular system with the lungs.
Without arteries and veins every other system in the body would be affected,they can't work
without oxygen

Review Questions
1. What disease is most commonly seen in African Americans which affects red blood cells?
a. Vasodilation
b. Arrhythmia
*c.Sickle Cell
d. Varicose Veins
2. What two arteries arise from the ascending aorta?
*a.left & right coronary arteries
b. subclavion & brachiocephalic arteries
c. left & right common carotid arteries
d. left & right axillary arteries
3. Which radiological investigation would you use to asses for deep vein thrombosis?
a. Duplex doppler ultrasound
b. Direct venography
c. MRI venography
*d. All of the above
4. What is the only artery that carries poorly oxygenated blood?
a. Gonadal artery
*b. Pulmonary artery

c. Right common carotid

d. Facial artery