Arteries Of The Torso

Front 1

aorta

Back 1

The major systemic artery; this is the artery from which all others arise.

Front 2

ascending aorta

Back 2

Ascends from the left ventricle in the heart. The only branches off the ascending aorta are the right and left coronary arteries, which serve the myocardium (middle or muscle layer) of the heart.

Front 3

aortic arch

Back 3

After ascending and supplying the heart, the aorta arches posteriorly and to the left. This is known as the aortic arch.

Front 4

innominate artery

Back 4

Another name for the brachiocephalic artery.

Front 5

brachiocephalic artery

Back 5

The first branch of the aortic arch and one of the three vessels branching off the aortic arch.

Front 6

left common carotid artery

Back 6

Branches from the aorta and extends up the left side of the neck. Another one of the three vessels which branch off the aortic arch.

Front 7

left subclavian artery

Back 7

Extends from the aortic arch to the left side of the body. One of the three vessels which branch off the aortic arch.

Front 8

thoracic aorta

Back 8

A continuation of the aortic arch as it descends through the thoracic (chest) cavity to the diaphragm. It is a very large vessel and divides into major branches to the organs and muscles of the chest. Numerous branches supplying oxygen to the chest branch off the thoracic aorta.

Front 9

coronary

Back 9

Arteries that supply the heart.

Front 10

bronchial

Back 10

Provide circulation to the lungs.

Front 11

esophageal

Back 11

Enters the esophagus as it passes through the mediastinum.

Front 12

cervical

Back 12

There are several cervical arteries: ascending cervical artery, deep cervical artery, descending cervical artery, superficial cervical artery, transverse cervical artery. These are in the cervical (neck) area.

Front 13

thyroid

Back 13

There is an inferior thyroid as well as an inferior thyroid artery of Cruveilhier, a lowest thyroid artery, and a superior thyroid artery. Finally, there is a thyrocervical trunk from which many arteries branch out.

Front 14

Cruveilhier

Back 14

An inferior thyroid artery.

Front 15

scapular

Back 15

There is a descending scapular artery, dorsal scapular artery, scapular circumflex artery, and transverse scapular artery. In addition to strictly scapular arteries, there are also the suprascapular and subscapular arteries. (Notice the use of supra and sub as prefixes.) These surround and/or supply the scapula.

Front 16

thoracic

Back 16

Include the highest thoracic arteries, internal thoracic arteries, and lateral thoracic arteries. In addition, there is a thoracoacromial artery and thoracodorsal artery. Notice that the last two are combined words. These are all found in the chest (thoracic) cavity.

Front 17

pulmonary

Back 17

There are both right and left pulmonary arteries which supply the right and left lungs. In fact, pulmonary means pertaining to the lung.

Front 18

coronary

Back 18

There are both right and left coronary arteries. These supply, respectively, the right atrium and ventricle and the left atrium and ventricle. Coronary actually means "encircling about like a crown." However, it is usually used in connection with the arteries, nerves, and other structures surrounding the heart.

Front 19

intercostal

Back 19

Supply the muscle between the ribs and structures of the chest wall. Intercostal means between the ribs.

Front 20

phrenic

Back 20

Supply blood to the diaphragm. There is a great phrenic artery as well as superior and inferior phrenic arteries. In addition, there is a musculophrenic artery and a pericardiophrenic artery.

Front 21

musculophrenic

Back 21

Arises from the internal thoracic artery and branches to lower part of pericardium.

Front 22

pericardiophrenic

Back 22

A long and slender branch of the internal thoracic artery. Relating to the pericardium and the diaphragm.

Front 23

abdominal aorta

Back 23

Also a very large vessel. It is specifically the segment of the aorta located between the diaphragm and the fourth lumbar vertebra.

Front 24

celiac

Back 24

This is the first branch of the abdominal aorta. It is a short, thick trunk which arises anteriorly just below the diaphragm. It immediately splits into three arterial branches (left gastric, hepatic, and splenic).

Front 25

splenic

Back 25

Goes into the spleen.

Front 26

left gastric

Back 26

Arises from the celiac artery and goes into the stomach.

Front 27

superior epigastric

Back 27

Arises from the internal thoracic artery, joins the inferior epigastric artery at the umbilicus, and supplies the anterior part of the abdominal wall and some of the diaphragm.

Front 28

gastroduodenal

Back 28

Small artery in the abdomen that supplies the stomach and duodenum.

Front 29

gastroepiploic

Back 29

Name of two different arteries (left and right gastro-omental) which supply the stomach and greater omentum.

Front 30

gastro-omental

Back 30

The left and right gastro-omental arteries branch from the splenic and gastroduodenal arteries, respectively, and supply the stomach and omentum.

Front 31

hepatic

Back 31

Goes into the liver. There is both a common hepatic artery and a proper hepatic artery.

Front 32

mesenteric

Back 32

Both the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries arise from the abdominal aorta. They supply blood to the small intestine, cecum, appendix, ascending colon, transverse colon, large intestine, and rectum.

Front 33

renal

Back 33

Conduct blood to the kidneys.

Front 34

suprarenal

Back 34

Located just above the renal arteries and supply blood to the adrenal glands. There is an aortic suprarenal artery, inferior suprarenal artery, middle suprarenal artery, and superior suprarenal artery.

Front 35

cystic

Back 35

Distributes blood to the gallbladder (think cholecystectomy).

Front 36

pancreatic

Back 36

There are dorsal pancreatic, great pancreatic, and inferior pancreatic arteries.

Front 37

pancreaticoduodenal

Back 37

There are pancreaticoduodenal arteries, including a posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal, an anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal, and an inferior pancreaticoduodenal.

Front 38

colic

Back 38

There is a left colic artery, middle colic artery, right colic artery, right inferior colic artery, and superior accessory colic artery. These supply various sections of the colon, i.e. the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon.

Front 39

sigmoid

Back 39

Supply the sigmoid colon.

Front 40

appendicular

Back 40

Supplies the appendix.

Front 41

ileal

Back 41

Supply the ileum and are NOT to be confused with the iliac arteries, which are in a different part of the pelvis and supply the ilium (the hip bone).

Front 42

ileocolic

Back 42

There are also ileocolic arteries which supply various abdominal structures, arising from the lowest branch of the superior mesenteric artery.

Front 43

jejunum

Back 43

Supplies blood to the jejunum.

Front 44

spermatic

Back 44

Found only in males, these are a pair of small vessels which are just below the renal arteries and supply the gonads.

Front 45

ovarian

Back 45

Found only in females, they serve a similar function as above, except in women.

Front 46

vesical

Back 46

There are inferior and superior vesical arteries. These supply the bladder and ureters.

Front 47

common iliac

Back 47

Gives rise to both the internal and external iliac arteries and supplies the pelvis, abdominal wall, and lower legs.

Front 48

iliolumbar

Back 48

There is also an iliolumbar artery which branches off the internal iliac artery.

Front 49

middle sacral

Back 49

Arises from the very bottom of the abdominal aorta and supplies blood to the sacrum and coccyx.

Front 50

pudendal

Back 50

Both the internal and external pudendal arteries supply blood to the genitals, perineum, anus, and upper medial thigh.