Vessel Landmarks

Front 1

Aorta

Back 1

Begins at the aortic valve of the heart.

Front 2

Abdominal Aorta

Back 2

Vessel begins at the diaphragm & ends at the bifurcation of the iliac arteries.

Front 3

Innominate Artery

Back 3

First branch of aortic arch;begins at aortic arch & ends at the bifurcation into right common carotid & right subclavian arteries.

Front 4

Left Common Carotid Artery

Back 4

Second branch off aortic arch;begins at aortic arch & ends at the carotid bifurcation.

Front 5

Left Subclavian Artery

Back 5

Third branch off aortic arch; begins at aortic arch & ends at the thoracic outlet

Front 6

Right Common Carotid Artery

Back 6

Begins at innominate bifurcation & ends at carotid bifurcation. The thyroid gland is medial to it proximally.

Front 7

Internal Carotid Artery

Back 7

Begins at common carotid bifurcation & ends at the circle of Willis.

Front 8

Right Subclavian Artery

Back 8

Begins at the innominate bifurcation & ends at the thoracic outlet, passing over the first rib.

Front 9

Axillary Artery

Back 9

Begins at the thoracic outlet & ends at the insertion of the teres major muscle in the upper arm.

Front 10

Brachial Artery

Back 10

Begins at the insertion of the teres major muscle & ends at the bifurcation into radial & ulnar arteries slightly distal to the level of the antecubital fossa.

Front 11

Celiac Trunk

Back 11

Begins at the proximal abdominal aorta & ends quickly at the bifurcation into hepatic (right) and splenic (left) arteries.

Front 12

Superior Mesenteric Artery

Back 12

Begins at the abdominal aorta just distal to the celiac trunk & branches to perfuse the small intestine.

Front 13

Left Renal Artery

Back 13

Begins at the abdominal aorta, usually somewhat posterolaterally, & ends at the kidney.

Front 14

Right Renal Artery

Back 14

Begins at the abdominal aorta just distal to the superior mesenteric artery, usually arising somewhat anterolaterally, & ends at the kidney.

Front 15

Common Iliac Artery

Back 15

Begins at the aortic bifurcation & ends at the bifurcation into internal & external iliac arteries

Front 16

External Iliac Artery

Back 16

Begins at the common iliac bifurcation & ends at the inguinal ligament.

Front 17

Common Femoral Artery

Back 17

Begins at the inguinal ligament & ends at the bifurcation into superficial & deep femoral arteries at about the level of the saphenofemoral junction.

Front 18

Superficial Femoral Artery

Back 18

Begins at the common femoral bifurcation, courses thru the adductor canal in the mid thigh, & ends at the adductor hiatus in the distal thigh.

Front 19

Popliteal Artery

Back 19

Begins at the adductor hiatus & ends at the bifurcation into anterior tibial & tibioperoneal trunk arteries.

Front 20

Anterior Tibial Artery

Back 20

Begins at the popliteal bifurcation, courses just deep to the interosseous membrane b/t the tibia & fibula in the anterior lower leg, & ends at the bend of the ankle & foot.

Front 21

Dorsalis Pedis Artery

Back 21

Begins at the bend of the foot (distal anterior tibial artery) & ends about halfway down the dorsum of the foot as it bifurcates into the deep plantar & arcuate arteries.

Front 22

Tibioperoneal Trunk

Back 22

Begins at the popliteal bifurcation & ends at the bifurcation into peroneal & posterior tibial arteries, about one-quarter of the way down the calf.

Front 23

Posterior Tibial Artery

Back 23

Begins at the tibioperoneal bifurcation, courses just deep to the soleal septum down the medial calf, posterior to the medial malleolus, & ends a bit distal to the malleolus as it bifurcates into plantar artery branches.

Front 24

Peroneal Artery

Back 24

Begins at the tibioperoneal trunk bifurcation,courses near the posterior aspect of the fibula, & ends near the lateral malleolus.