Great Vessels Aorta Flashcards
What do Arterie’s do?
Move blood away from the heart, typically transports oxygenated blood. Pulmonary Arteries are the exception.
Arteries are designed to do what?
Maintain blood flow and blood pressure
How many layers is the arteries composed of?
Three With the lumen in the middle
1. Tunica Intima (the innermost layer)
2. Tunica Media (the thick middle layer)
3. Tunica Adventitia (the outside layer)
What is the largest artery in the body?
The Aorta
Where does the abdominal Aorta start?
The aortic hiatus of diaphragm (T12)
Where does the abdominal aorta bifurcates?
The L4
The major branches of the abdominal aorta are what? (From distal to proximal)
- Celiac axis/trunk
- Adrenal/ suprarenal
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Renal
- Gonadal
- Inferior mesenteric artery
- Median sacral
- Common iliac
What is the celiac trunk or axis?
The 1st major branch of the aorta and is around 1cm long
The celiac axis is composed of what three branches?
- Common Hepatic artery
- Splenic Artery
- Left gastric artery
Where is the common hepatic artery?
Travels towards the liver and splits into hepatic artery proper and gastroduodenal artery
Where is the splenic artery? And what does it do?
Travels left along superior aspect of pancreas and it supplies the spleen, tail of pancreas
Where is the Left gastric artery and what does it supply?
Travels left along the lesser curvature to stomach and supplies the stomach with blood
What are the adrenal Arteries?
Paired Arteries that is also called suprarenal arteries
Where does the Adrenal Arteries originate?
Between the levels of Celiac axis and SMA. And not identified with Ultrasound.
What is the SMA stand for?
Superior mesenteric Artery
When looking at a ultrasound how do we identify the Celiac axis typically?
Look for the seagull
What is the SMA?
The 2nd anterior branch of the abdominal aorta
What does the SMA supply blood to?
Small intestine, ascending colon and right and mid transverse colon
How is the SMA structured in the body?
It starts off anterior and then hooks inferior on the lumbar
What does the Renal Arteries supply blood to?
Kidneys
If the renal arteries are paired what does it mean?
It is a structure that supplies blood to two sides. One to each kidney.
Where is the renal arteries located?
Inferior to the SMA
The right renal artery sits ______ to the IVC
Posterior to the IVC. This is due to the position of the artery located on the body.
The right renal artery is ________ then the Left renal artery
Longer, the arteries are located on the left side of the body therefore it needs to travel farther to get to the other side
The renal arteries run _________ to the veins
Posterior
The right renal artery sits slightly ________ to the LRA. Why?
Inferior, because of the position of the liver.
The gonadal arteries originate from where?
Anterior aorta, Inferior to the renal arteries
What kind of path does the gonadal arteries take?
Inferior oblique path
What does the Gonadal arteries supply blood to?
Gonads
What is the IMA?
Inferior mesenteric artery
Where is the IMA located?
Anterior branch at the L3
What does the IMA supply blood to?
Left transverse colon, descending and sigmoid colon and rectum
Is the IMA typically seen on ultrasounds?
No
What are the Lumbar arteries
Paired arteries of 4-5 sets, arise lateral and posterior
What does the lumbar arteries supply blood to?
The lumbar
Are the lumbar arteries seen on a ultrasound?
No
What is the median sacral artery?
The most inferior branch of the aorta and supplies blood to the sacrum.
Is the median sacral artery seen on ultrasound?
Not typically
What are the common iliac arteries (CIA)
Aorta bifurcates @ L4 to form right and left CIAs
What cavity is the aorta located?
(retroperitoneal)
