Arterial Supply

Question 1

Where does nutrient exchange take place?

Answer 1

Arterioles and capillaries at peripheral body tissues

Question 2

What is the largest artery in the body?

Answer 2

Aorta

Question 3

Where does the aorta come from?

Answer 3

The left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood

Question 4

What 4 parts can the aorta be divided into?

Answer 4

Ascending, arch, descending (thoracic) and abdominal

Question 5

Describe the ascending aorta

Answer 5

The left and right coronary arteries branch from the ascending aorta and supply the heart

Question 6

Describe the aortic arch

Answer 6

After T4/T5 of the ascending aorta the aorta arches over to the left side. This area is known as the aortic arch.

Question 7

How many branches does the aortic arch give off?

Answer 7

3 branches which supply the head, neck and upper limbs

Question 8

What is the first branch called?

Answer 8

Brachiocephalic trunk

Question 9

What does the brachiocephalic trunk divide into?

Answer 9

The right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery

Question 10

What are the other two branches of the aortic arch?

Answer 10

The left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery

Question 11

What level do the common carotid arteries divide?

Answer 11

At C3 they divide into the internal and external carotid arteries

Question 12

Describe the internal carotid artery

Answer 12

Is the major blood supply to the brain

Question 13

Describe the external carotid artery

Answer 13

Is the major blood supply to the neck, face and scalp on this respective side

Question 14

Where are the subclavian arteries found?

Answer 14

Below the clavicle

Question 15

Describe the subclavian artery

Answer 15

Is the major blood supply to the arm, thoracic wall, shoulder and neck

Question 16

What does the subclavian artery become in the upper limb?

Answer 16

Becomes the axillary and brachial artery which provides arterial branches throughout the upper limb

Question 17

What are the two major arteries in the forearm?

Answer 17

Ulnar and radial arteries

Question 18

What is the descending aorta also known as?

Answer 18

The thoracic aorta

Question 19

Where is the descending aorta found?

Answer 19

Left of the vertebral column in the thorax

Question 20

What does the descending aorta supply?

Answer 20

Branches that supplies structure of the thorax e.g. oesophagus, lungs, thoracic wall muscles, pericardium and the superior surface of the diaphragm

Question 21

Describe the abdominal aorta

Answer 21

Descending aorta becomes the abdominal aorta as it passes through the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm at the vertebral level of T12

Question 22

What does the abdominal aorta supply?

Answer 22

Branches that supply structures of the abdomen, pelvis and lower limb

Question 23

What structures does the abdominal aorta supply?

Answer 23

Coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, renal arteries and the inferior mesenteric artery

Question 24

What does the abdominal aorta split into?

Answer 24

Two common iliac arteries that travel towards the pelvis and lower limb

Question 25

What is the coeliac trunk?

Answer 25

Is the first unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta

Question 26

What does the coeliac trunk supply?

Answer 26

Supplies foregut structures of the abdomen including the stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas and spleen

Question 27

Where does the coeliac trunk come off the abdominal aorta?

Answer 27

At the vertebral level of T12

Question 28

What is the superior mesenteric artery?

Answer 28

It’s the second unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta

Question 29

What does the superior mesenteric artery supply?

Answer 29

Supplies midgut structures of the abdomen including most of the small intestine and the proximal portion of the large intestine

Question 30

Where does the superior mesenteric artery come off?

Answer 30

Comes off the abdominal aorta at the vertebral level of L1

Question 31

Describe the renal arteries

Answer 31

They are paired branches of the abdominal aorta

Question 32

What do renal arteries supply?

Answer 32

Supply the kidneys and come off the abdominal aorta at the vertebral level of L1/L2

Question 33

What is the inferior mesenteric artery?

Answer 33

Is the third unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta

Question 34

What does the inferior mesenteric artery supply?

Answer 34

Supplies hindgut structures of the abdomen which is the distal portion of the large intestine

Question 35

Where does the inferior mesenteric artery come off?

Answer 35

Comes off at the abdominal aorta at the vertebral level of L3

Question 36

What are the common iliac arteries?

Answer 36

From the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta at the vertebral level of L4

Question 37

What does the external iliac artery continue as?

Answer 37

As the femoral artery and supplies the lower limb

Question 38

What does the internal iliac artery supply?

Answer 38

Structures of the pelvic cavity and perineum