2 - Introduction to cardiovascular anatomy

Question 1

What constitutes the double circulatory system?

Answer 1

• pulmonary and systemic systems
• conducting (arteries and veins) and exchange (capillaries)

Question 2

what does the aorta do?

Answer 2

delivers blood to the rest of the body

Question 3

what does the superior/inferior vena cava do?

Answer 3

delivers blood from the body

Question 4

what does the pulmonary artery do?

Answer 4

delivers blood to the lungs

Question 5

what does the pulmonary vein do?

Answer 5

delivers blood from the lungs

Question 6

what are the three sections of the aorta?

Answer 6

• ascending aorta
• arch of the aorta
• descending aorta (thoracic/abdominal)

Question 7

What are the types of arteries branching from the descending aorta?

Answer 7

• paired arteries to the body walls (e.g. posterior intercostal arteries)
• paired arteries to organs (e.g. renal arteries to the kidneys)
• unpaired arteries to the GI tract (e.g. coeliac trunk)

Question 8

How are the arteries arranged around the aorta?

Answer 8

• The right and left internal thoracic arteries (branching from the subclavian arteries)
• Anterior intercostal arteries (branching from the internal thoracic arteries)
• posterior intercostal arteries (branching from descending aorta)

Question 9

What is the coarctation of the aorta?

Answer 9

• twisting/narrowing of the aorta
• blood is unable to follow the natural course through the descending aorta