Cv System: Major Arteries And Veins

Front 1

What are the distinguishing features of arteries and veins

Back 1

Arteries have a significantly larger amount of smooth muscle for vasoconstriction and dilation to control blood flow

Veins have valves which prevent backflow. In bypass surgeries which use veins the directionality is important because of the presence of veins

Front 2

What are the two circuits of the cardiovascular system and how does blood flow between them

Back 2

There is a pulmonary and a systemic circuit.

Vena cava to the RA to the RV to the pulmonary circuit to the LA to the LV to the aorta to the systemic circuit and back to the vena cava

Front 3

The heart is a two pump circuit. Which sides of the heart control which circuit

Back 3

The right side of the heart controls the pulmonary circuit.

The left side of the heart controls the systemic circuit

Front 4

Describe blood flow in the pulmonary circuit. How much of the cardiac output does the pulmonary circuit recieve

Back 4

Vena cava to the RA to the RV to the pulmonary trunk, to the L and R pulmonary arteries to the alveoli, to the L and R superior and inferior pulmonary veins, to the LA to the LV

The pulmonary circuit receives 100% of the cardiac output

Front 5

Most arteries in the systemic circulation will be symmetric. Where does asymmetry exist in the systemic circuit

Back 5

In the thorax, great vessels (aorta), and in the GI tract

Front 6

Where will the blood supply come from for organs superior to the heart

Back 6

Everything superior of the heart will be fed by the 3 main branches of the aorta. The L. subclavian, the L. common carotid, and the brachiocephalic artery.

The brachiocephalic artery branches off into the R. subclavian and R. common carotid, so really its 4 arteries supplying things superior to heart.

Front 7

Explain the presence of the ligamentum arteriosum

Back 7

The ligamentum arteriosum is an artifact left behind from fetal blood circulation. While a fetus the pulmonary trunk and aorta were connected via the ductus arteriosus which allowed blood to flow from the right side of the heart into the aorta. The blood flow to lungs was not needed because you do not use lungs as a fetus. When a baby takes their first breath the pressure change causes a collapse of the ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary circulation begins.

Front 8

What are the coronary arteries and their function

Back 8

The function of the coronary arteries are to supply blood to the walls of the heart. There is a left and right coronary artery. The left coronary artery branches into the circumflex artery and the anterior interventricular artery (L. Anterior Descending artery (LAD))

Front 9

What areas of the heart does the right coronary artery supply

Back 9

The right coronary artery supplies the RA/RV and has marginal arteries which are highly variable from person to person

Front 10

What areas of the heart does the left coronary artery supply

Back 10

The left coronary artery supplies the LA/LV. It also has two distinct branches termed the circumflex artery and the interventricular artery or LAD

The interventricular artery or LAD is the artery most commonly involved in bypass surgery and it supplies the LV, the most important vessel of the heart.

Front 11

Why does the aorta not carry 100% of the CO

Back 11

Due to coronary arteries taking some of the blood

Front 12

Where does venous drainage of the coronary arteries take place and where does it drain to

Back 12

Venous drainage of the coronary arteries takes place on the posterior side of the heart. They combine into a coronary sinus which drains into the RA.

Front 13

What are the four arteries of the head, neck, and brain

Back 13

Common carotid arteries, vertebral arteries, thyrocervical trunk and costocervical trunk

Front 14

What do the common carotid arteries branch into

Back 14

They branch into the internal and external carotid arteries which supply the brain only, and the face respectively.

Front 15

Where do the vertebral arteries supply blood to

Back 15

They travel to the brain to eventually become the Circle of Willis which will feed the vertebral column and the brain

Front 16

Where do the thyrocervical and costocervical trunks supply blood to

Back 16

They supply blood to the thyroid and large areas of the neck, and the ribs and base of the neck respectively

Front 17

More specifically, describe the branching of the external carotid arteries and what they support

Back 17

The external carotid artery branches into the temporal, facial, and maxillary arteries that feed the face.

The temporal arteries feed the lateral areas of the head.

The facial arteries supply the medial areas of the head inferior to the orbits

Front 18

Describe the branching of the maxillary arteries

Back 18

The maxillary arteries branch into the middle meningeal artery which dives behind the skull to feed the outside of the meninges and the interior of the skull

Front 19

What is the clinical significance of the middle meningeal artery

Back 19

During a skull fracture the middle meningeal artery can rupture causing an epidural (extradural) hematoma causing bleeding outside of the meninge. This is much more dangerous than a venous rupture which would cause a subdural hematoma due to the higher pressure associated with arteries

Front 20

What are the arteries of the right upper limb and thorax

Back 20

They are the R. Subclavian artery which turns into the axillary artery as it passes beneath the clavicle, the internal mammary artery which feeds the tissue of the breast and pectoralis major (often used for bypass surgeries due to its proximity to the heart), and the ulnar and radial arteries feeding the pinky and thumb sides of the wrist/hand respectively

Front 21

What are the major unpaired branches of the abdominal aorta and what do they feed as a whole

Back 21

The celiac trunk, the superior mesenteric artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery

As a whole they feed the GI tract

Front 22

Describe the blood flow as the aorta becomes the abdominal aorta

Back 22

Ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending aorta, thoracic aorta, and once it passes the diaphragm it becomes the abdominal aorta

Front 23

What do the celiac trunk, and superior and inferior mesenteric arteries feed

Back 23

The celiac trunk feeds the foregut or the most proximal portion of the gut.

The superior mesenteric artery feeds the midgut or all of the small intestine and part of the large intestine

The inferior mesenteric artery feeds the hindgut or the other half of the large intestine and the rectum

Front 24

What are the major paired branches of the abdominal aorta. What do they feed

Back 24

They are the suprarenal arteries, the renal arteries, the gonadal arteries, the lumbar arteries, and the common iliac arteries

Suprarenal-adrenal gland
Renal-kidneys, and is the largest branch off the abdominal aorta
gonadal-feeds the ovary/testes
Lumbar-feeds back
common iliac arteries-feed the lower limbs

Front 25

What happens when the common iliac arteries enter the lower limb

Back 25

they become the femoral arteries

Front 26

What is the importance of the femoral artery

Back 26

It has a direct line to the heart and the coronary arteries, as well as the uterus and prostate. It is superficial and easy to access.

Front 27

What are the major veins with no arterial counterparts

Back 27

The median cubital vein, the tributaries of the inferior vena cava, the portal vein, and the saphenous vein

Front 28

What is the importance of the median cubital vein

Back 28

It is a vein running through the elbow that we use to take blood from intravenously

Front 29

Describe the tributaries of the inferior vena cava

Back 29

The vena cava is the venous equivalent to the aorta. They are mostly symmetrical, and they are always paired, but sometimes their drainage is asymmetrical

Front 30

What are the instances where venous drainage is asymmetrical

Back 30

The R. gonadal and R. suprarenal veins both drain directly into the IVC, while the L. gonadal and L. suprarenal veins drain into the L. renal vein which then drains into the IVC.

Front 31

Why does portal circulation exist

Back 31

The 3 unpaired aortic branches to the gut have no venous counterparts due to the existence of the portal system. We want to screen blood coming from the gut for potential pathogens so we send the blood supply to the liver which screens it. This blood supply to the liver is called the portal vein

Front 32

What is the significance of the saphenous vein

Back 32

It is close to the femoral artery, is fairly unnecessary, and is often used for bypass surgeries. It is also very superficial