Blood Supply to Body + Brain

Question 1

aortic arch

Answer 1

aorta turns posteriorly once leaving heart

Question 2

descending (thoracic) aorta

Answer 2

comes after aortic arch

located in thoracic cavity (above diaphragm)

Question 3

abdominal aorta

Answer 3

comes after descending aorta

located below diaphragm

Question 4

inferior vena cava

Answer 4

returns deoxygenated blood from lower body

Question 5

superior vena cava

Answer 5

returns deoxygenated blood from upper body

Question 6

brachiocephalic trunk

Answer 6

• first branch of aortic arch

- supplies blood to right arm and neck

Question 7

Circle of Willis

Answer 7

• aka cerebral arterial circle

- provides alternate circulation to brain in case one artery blocked

Question 8

vertebral arteries

Answer 8

• ascending arteries on both sides of spinal cord

- merge to form basilar artery at base of pons

Question 9

basilar artery

Answer 9

• at base of pons
• formed by joining of L + R vertebral arteries
• branches into posterior cerebral arteries

Question 10

posterior cerebral arteries

Answer 10

• branches of basilar artery

Question 11

common carotid arteries

Answer 11

• located in neck

- branch into L + R internal carotid arteries

Question 12

internal carotid arteries

Answer 12

• L +R
• branch off common carotid arteries
• terminate at middle cerebral arteries

Question 13

middle cerebral arteries

Answer 13

• start at termination of L + R internal carotid arteries

- branch into anterior cerebral arteries

Question 14

posterior communicating arteries

Answer 14

connect to L + R internal carotid arteries

Question 15

anterior cerebral arteries

Answer 15

• branch off of middle cerebral arteries

- connected to each other via anterior communicating artery

Question 16

anterior communicating artery

Answer 16

connects L + R anterior cerebral arteries to complete circle of circulation

Question 17

blood’s one-way path through body

Answer 17

deoxygenated blood from tissues

• -> inferior + superior vena cavae
• -> right atrium
• -> tricuspid valve
• -> right ventricle
• -> pulmonary valve
• -> pulmonary arteries
• -> capillary beds of lungs (alveoli)

[now] oxygenated blood

• -> pulmonary veins
• -> left atrium
• -> bicuspid valve
• -> left ventricle
• -> aortic valve
• -> aorta
• -> aortic arch
• -> all over body

once deoxygenated again
–> vena cavae (circuit complete)