Arterial Branches of the Abdominal Aorta
= enters the thigh, where it
Celiac Trunk
 The first branch of the abdominal aorta.
 A single vessel that has 3 branches:
 L. Gastric Artery = supplies the
stomach
 Splenic artery = supplies the spleen
 Common hepatic artery = supplies
the liver
Superior Mesenteric Artery
 Supplies most of the small intestine and
the first half of the large intestine, or
colon
Renal Arteries (R. and L.)
 Serve the kidneys
Gonadal Arteries (R. and L.)
 Supply the gonads
 Ovarian arteries = females (serving
the ovaries)
 Testicular arteries = male ( serving
the testes)
Lumbar Arteries
 Several pairs of arteries serving the
heavy muscles of the abdomen and
trunk walls.
Inferior Mesenteric Artery
 Small, unpaired artery supplying the
second half of the large intestine.
Common Iliac Arteries (R. and L.)
 Final branches of the abdominal aorta
 Internal Iliac Artery
= supplies the pelvic organs (
bladder, rectum, and so on.)
 External Iliac Artery
becomes the femoral artery.
Femoral Artery and its branches
 Deep Femoral Artery
= serve the thigh
 Popliteal Artery = splits into the
anterior and posterior tibial arteries
 Anterior and Posterior Tibial
arteries = supply the leg and foot
 Dorsalis Pedis Artery = supplies the
dorsum of the foot.
Major Veins of the Systemic Circulation
 Most deep veins follow the course of
major arteries
 The naming of these veins is identical to
that of their companion arteries.
 Major systemic veins branch off the
aorta, whereas the veins converge on
the vena cava, which enter the right
atrium of the heart.
 Veins draining the head and arms =
empty the superior vena cava
 Veins draining the lower body =
empty into the inferior vena cava
Veins Draining into the Superior Vena Cava
 Veins draining into superior vena cava
are named in a distal to proximal
direction (same direction the blood
flows into the vena cava)
 Radial and Ulnar Veins
= deep veins draining the fore arm
= unite to form the deep brachial
vein
 Brachial Vein
= drains the arm and empties into
the axillary vein in the axillary
region.
 Cephalic Vein
= provides for the superficial
drainage of the lateral aspect of the
arm and empties into the axillary
vein.
 Basilic Vein
= a superficial vein that drains the
medial aspect of the arm and
empties into the brachial vein
proximally.
 Median Cubital Vein
= join the basilic and cephalic veins
at the anterior aspect of the elbow
= often chosen as the site for blood
removal for blood testing
 Subclavian Vein
= receives venous blood from the
arm through the axillary vein and
from the skin and muscles of the
head through the external jugular
vein.
 Vertebral Vein
= drain the posterior part of the
head
 Internal Jugular Vein
= drains the dural sinuses or the
brain
 Brachiocephalic (R. and L) Veins
= receive venous drainage from the
subclavian, vertebral, and inter
jugular veins
=join to form the superior vena
cava
 Azygos Vein
= drains the thorax and enters the
superior vena cava before it enters
the heart
Veins Draining into the Inferior Vena Cava
 Much longer that the superior vena
cava
 Returns blood to the heart from all
body regions below the diaphragm
 Distal to proximal direction
 Anterior and Posterior Tibial Veins
and the Fibular Vein
=drain the leg (calf and foot)
Posterior Tibial Vein becomes the
popliteal vein at the knee and
Femoral Vein in the thigh
 Great Saphenous Veins
= longest veins in the body
=receive the superficial drainage of
the leg
 Common (R. and L) Iliac Vein
=formed by union of external iliac
vein and internal iliac vein (drains
the pelvis)
 R. Gonadal Vein
= drain the right ovary in female
=drains the right testicle in males
 L. Gonadal
= empties into the left renal vein
superiorly
  Renal (R and L) Veins
= drain the kidneys
 Hepatic Portal Vein
= single vein that drains the
digestive tract organs
= carries blood through the liver
before it enters the systemic
circulation
 Hepatic ( R. and L) Veins
= drain the liver
Special Circulations
Arterial Supply of the Brain and the Circle of
Willis
 Brain is supplied by two pairs of arteries
 Internal Carotid Arteries
= Branches of the common carotid
arteries
=run through the neck and enter
the skull
= divides into Anterior and Middle
Cerebral Arteries (supply most of
the cerebrum)
 Vertebral Arteries
= pass upward from the subclavian
arteries
= joins to form the single basilar
artery (serves the brain stem and
cerebellum)
 Posterior Cerebral Arteries
= supply the posterior part of
cerebrum
Circle of Willis
=Complete circle of connecting blood vessels
= surrounds the base of the brain
= protects brain by providing more than one
route for blood to reach brain tissue in case of a
clot or impaired blood flow
Hepatic Portal Circulation
= drain the digestive organs, spleen, and
pancreas
=deliver blood to liver through hepatic portal
vein
Inferior Mesenteric Vein
= draining the terminal part of the large
intestine
=drains into the splenic vein (drains the spleen,
pancreas and the left side of the stomach)
Superior Mesenteric Vein
=drain the small intestine and the first part of
the colon
*The splenic vein and superior mesenteric vein
join to form the hepatic portal vein.
L. Gastric Vein
=drains the right side of the stomach
=drains directly into the hepatic portal vein
Fetal Circulation
 lungs and digestive system are not yet
functioning in a fetus
 all nutrient, excretory, and gas
exchange occur through the placenta
 Umbilical Cord
= contains three blood vessels:
One large umbilical vein and two
smaller umbilical arteries
Umbilical vein = carries blood rich
in nutrients and oxygen to the
fetus.
Umbilical Arteries = carry carbon
dioxide and debris-laden blood
from fetus to the placenta.
 Fetal lungs are not functional and
collapsed
 Some of the blood entering the right
atrium is shunted directly into the left
atrium through the foramen ovale
 Foramen Ovale
= opening in the interatrial septum
 Ductus Arteriosus
= short vessel that connects the
aorta and pulmonary trunk.
 At birth or shortly after, the foramen
ovale closes and the ductus arteriosus
collapses and is converted into
ligamentum arteriosum
Physiology of Circulation
Vital signs
= taking arterial pulse and blood pressure
measurements along with respiratory rate and
body temperature
 Arterial Pulse
Pulse
= alternating expansion and recoil of an
artery that occurs with each beat of the
left ventricle creates a pressure wave
= travels through the entire arterial
system
Pulse rate (pressure surge per minute)
equals the Heart rate (beats per
minute)
Pulse = 70-76 beats per minute in a
normal resting person
Pressure Points
= easy way of counting heart rate
= compressed to stop blood flow into distal
tissues during hemorrhage.
Blood Pressure
= pressure the blood vessels exerts against the
inner walls of the blood vessels
= force that keeps blood circulating
continuously even between heartbeats
Blood pressure Gradient
Arteriosclerosis
= hardening of the arteries
Measuring Blood Pressure

 Systolic Pressure = the pressure in Hypertension

arteries at the peak of ventricular
contraction =a condition of sustained elevated pressure of
 Diastolic Pressure = pressure when 140/90 or higher.
the ventricles are relaxing Chronic Hypertension

= a common and dangerous disease that warns

Blood Pressures are reported in millimeters of of increased peripheral resistance.
mercury (mmHg), with the systolic pressure = slowly and surely strains the heart and
written first. damages the arteries.

120/ 80 (120 over 80) = called the ‘silent killer’

Auscultatory Method Congenital Heart Disease

= used to measure blood pressure in the = defects account for about half of infant deaths
brachial artery of the arm resulting from all congenital defcts

Homeostatic Imbalances = maternal infections and ingested drugs during

the first three months of pregnancy seem to
Hypotension cause such problems.
= generally considered to be a systolic blood = include ductus arteriosus that does
pressure below 100 mm Hg not close, sepal openings, and other
Orthostatic Hypotension structural abnormalities of the heart.

= temporary low blood pressure and dizziness

when they rise suddenly from a reclining or
sitting position.

Chronic Hypotension

= may hint at poor nutrition and inadequate

levels of blood proteins

Acute Hypotension

= One of the most important warnings of

circulatory shock.

= a condition in which blood vessels are

inadequately filled and cannot circulate
normally.