Arterial System Anatomy Flashcards
Arteries
-transport gases, nutrients, and other essential substances to capillaries
-progressively decrease in size from the aorta to the arterioles
Arterioles
-considered resistance vessels
-assist with regulating with blood flow through contraction and relaxation
Capillaries
-nutrients and waste products are exchanged between the tissue and blood
Venules
-collect blood from the capillary beds
-assist with regulating blood flow through contraction and relaxation
Vein
-collect blood from the venules and return it to the heart
-get progressively larger from the venules to the heart
What is the microscopic anatomy of the vessel walls? (Layers)
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica adventitia/externa
Tunica intima
innermost layer, consisting of smooth endothelial cells and is supported by an internal elastic lamina
-subendothelial space is the site of proliferative activity: atherosclerosis
Tunica media
middle layer, thickest layer, composed of smooth muscle cells intermingled with elastic fibers
Tunica adventitia/externa
the outer layer, thinner than the tunica media, contains fibrous connective tissue, some muscle fibers
-contains nerve fibers and lymphatics which remove metabolic waste and nourish the vessel
-also contains the VASA VASORUM-(“blood supply within the blood supply”)- a network of small vessels that supply the walls of large blood vessels, wall
Parts of the aorta
-ascending aorta
-aortic arch
-descending thoracic aorta
-abdominal aorta
Ascending aorta
from the aortic valve to the first branch
Aortic arch
3 main branches (brachiocephalic trunk/innominate artery, left common carotid artery, left subclavian artery)
Descending thoracic aorta
-generally not evaluated w/ vascular ultrasound - cannot insonate
Abdominal aorta
-begins at the diaphragm
-terminates at the aortic bifurcation into the iliac arteries
Branches of the aortic arch
-Brachiocephalic trunk (Inominate) Artery - first and largest branch (directly off the aortic arch), bifurcates into the right subclavian and right common carotid arteries
-Left common carotid artery- 2nd branch directly off the aortic arch
-Left subclavian artery - 3rd branch directly off the aortic arch
Upper extremity arteries
-Subclavian, axillary, brachial, radial, ulnar, deep plamar (volar) arch, superficial palmar (volar) arteries
Subclavian artery
terminates in the axillary artery at the border of the first rib
Axillary artery
-passes behind the clavicle
-terminates into the brachial artery at the axilla
Brachial artery
-begins at the axilla as the continuation of the axillary artery
-travels through the medial upper arm to the elbow/antecubital fossa
-main blood supply to the arm, forearm, and hand
-divides into the radial and ulnar arteries (usually near the elbow but the bifurcation location varies)
Radial artery
-travels down LATERAL side of the forearm into the hand
-terminal branch - deep palmar arch
Ulnar artery
-begins at the brachial artery and travels down MEDIAL side of forearm into hand
-terminal branch - superficial palmar arch
Deep palmar (volar) arch
-Source - radial artery w/ contribution from the ulnar artery
-courses along the palm of the hand
Superficial palmar (volar) arch
Source - ulnar artery w/ contribution from the radial artery
-courses along the back of the hand
Palmar arch
-not always complete
Visceral branches of the abdominal aorta
-celiac artery (left gastric artery, common hepatic artery, splenic artery)
-superior mesenteric artery
-renal arteries
-inferior mesenteric artery
Celiac artery
-visceral branch of aorta
-supplies STOMACH, liver, pancreas, duodenum, spleen
-divides into LEFT GASTRIC ARTERY (supplies stomach and esophagus), COMMON HEPATIC Artery (supplies liver), and SPLENIC artery (supplies spleen)
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)
-visceral branch of aorta
- located ~ 1 cm distal to the celiac artery
- supplies the small intestine, cecum, parts of the colon
-SMA and CELIAC may have a COMMON TRUNK
Renal arteries
-visceral branch of aorta
-origin just below SMA
-w/ aorta in transverse, left renal vein is a “landmark” for identifying renal arteries
-supply blood to the kidneys, suprarenal glands, ureters
-right longer than left; passes behind the IVC
-multiple renal arteries are common
Inferior mesenteric artery
-visceral branch of aorta
-arises from the abdominal aorta ~ 2-4 cm above the abdominal aorta bifurcation
-supplies transverse and descending colon, part of the rectum
-potential collateral pathway
What are two potential collateral connections between the SMA and SMV?
-Marginal artery of the colon (Marginal artery of Drummond)
-Arc of Riolan
Common iliac arteries (CIA)
-supply the pelvis, abdominal wall, and lower limbs
-divides into the internal iliac arteries and external iliac arteries
Internal iliac artery (IIA) (hypogastric artery)
supplies the pelvis and inner thigh
External iliac artery (EIA)
-supplies the leg
-terminates into the common femoral artery (CFA) at the inguinal ligament
-Landmark - Psoas Major Muscle
Lower extremity arteries
-Common femoral, superficial femoral, deep femoral (profunda femoris), politeal, anterior tibial, tibial/peroneal trunk, posterior tibial, peroneal, and plantar arch/ digital arteries
Common femoral artery (CFA)
-becomes the CCFA at the inguinal ligament
-the inguinal ligament is superior to the inguinal (groin) crease
Superficial femoral artery (SFA)
-courses the length of the medial thigh
-terminates in the adductor hiatus and becomes the popliteal artery
Deep femoral artery (profunda femoris) DFA
-more lateral and posterior as compared to the SFA
-supplies thigh
-collateral pathway via connections to the popliteal artery (genicular branches)
Popliteal artery (Pop A)
-continuation of the SFA as it passes through the adductor hiatus (hunter’s canal) where there is an opening in the adductor magnus muscle
-Many genicular branches (connect w/ the profunda branches)- this is why many SFA occlusions reconstitute in the distal thigh
-terminal branches anterior tibial and tibial/peroneal trunk
Anterior tibial artery (ATA)
-first branch of the distal popliteal artery
-passes through the interosseous membrane to the anterior lateral aspect (front) of the leg where it lies close to the inner side of the fistula
-the distal segment is on the surface of the interosseous membrane near the tibia
-as it crosses the ankle, the ATA becomes the dorsalis pedis artery (DPA)
