Anatomy - The Circulatory System Flashcards
What makes up the circulatory system?
Cardiovascular and lymphatic system. Slide 2
What are the names of the Great Vessels?
Superior and inferior vena cava, aorta, pulmonary veins, pulmonary artery. Slide 2
What blood vessels are between arteries and veins?
Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins. Slide 3
What does proximal to the heart mean?
Closer to the heart and distal means closer to the tissue. Slide 4
What does an NVB stand for?
Neurovascular bundle. Slide 4
What is the NVB?
Arteries, vein and nerve. Slide 4
What does bifurcation mean?
Termination of an artery by dividing into 2 terminal branches. Slide 4
What does trifurcation mean?
3 terminal branches. Slide 4
What does trunk/common in an artery name indicate?
That it will divide again. Slide 4
What are the characteristics of arteries?
Have a tortuous (curvy) course, located deeper than veins. High intraluminal pressure and usually carries oxygenated blood have elastic fibres in the walls at the largest parts of the artery. Slide 4
What is an anastomosis?
Connection between arteries without a capillary network in between. Slide 5
What are collaterals?
An alternative route of blood flow. Slide 5
What do end arteries do?
Only arterial blood supply to a particular area. Slide 5
What are arterioles involved with?
Vasoconstriction and vasodilation. Slide 6
What are arterioles controlled by?
Sympathetic nervous system. Slide 6
What are the characteristics of arterioles?
Slightly narrow and have a constant low level of contraction of the smooth muscle. Slide 6
What does the Aorta do?
Carry the systemic blood from the heart at high pressure. Slide 7
Why does the Aorta have elastic in the walls?
To help the aorta expand to cope with pressue and recoil to maintain peripheral blood flow when the heart relaxes. Slide 7
How many parts make up the aorta?
- Slide 7
What are the 4 parts that make up the Aorta?
Ascending, Arch, Thoracic and Abdominal. Slide 8
What does the ascending aorta consist of?
2 branches, right and left coronary arteries. Slide 8
What does the arch of the aorta consist of?
3 branches. Slide 8
What does the thoracic aorta consist of?
Multiple branches. Slide 8
What does the abdominal aorta consist of?
3 unpaired midline branches and 3 paired bilateral branches. Slide 8
What do the coronary arteries supply to?
Supply blood to the heart. Slide 8
When does the thoracic (descending aorta) change to the abdominal?
When it passes through the diaphragm. Slide 8
What are the 3 branches of the arch of the aorta?
Brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and the left subclavian. Slide 9
What does the brachiocephalic trunk turn into?
It bifurcates into the right common carotid and the right subclavian arteries. Slide 10
What happens to the artery as it moves down the upper limb?
Continuation from subclavian, axillary, brachial and then bifurcates further at elbow into ulnar and radial. It changes name to identify what region it is in. Slide 11
What does the common carotid bifurcate into?
External and internal carotid. Slide 12
What is the carotid sinus?
Most proximal and usually dilated part of the internal carotid artery. Found at the superior border of thyroid cartilage. Slide 12
What does the carotid sinus do?
It detects changes in arterial blood pressure and is innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. Slide 12
What does the carotid body do?
Detects blood gas levels and pH and is also innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. Slide 12
Where does the internal carotid artery go to?
Straight into the cranial cavity via the carotid canal. Slide 12
What does the vertebral artery do?
Branches from the subclavian artery and travels through the vertebral foraminae of the cervical vertebrae and then through the foramen magnum to supply the brain. Slide 13
What happens to the vertebral and internal carotid artery?
They anastomose together. Slide 13
What is the blood brain barrier?
Protects brain tissue by having astrocyte processes surrounding brain capillaries and prevent diffusion of some substances as there are tight junctions between brain capillary endothelial cells. Slide 14
What is the Circle of Willis?
Type of anastomosis which helps preserve blood flow in the brain. Slide 14
What are the 2 branches of the Thoracic aorta?
Bilateral which are posterior intercostal arteries and anterior surface arteries e.g. bronchial, oesophageal, mediastinal, pericardial and phrenic. Slide 15
Where are the 3 unpaired arteries on the abdominal aorta situated?
Anterior surface. Slide 16
Where are the 3 bilateral paired arteries on the abdominal aorta situated?
Lateral surface. Slide 16
