Introduction to cardiovascular system Flashcards
What is the role of the blood vessels?
Transporting blood around the body
Describe the function of the pulmonary system
Blood travels to lung to become oxygenated before travelling back to the heart
Gas exchange in lungs
Low hydrostatic pressure due to only transporting blood to the lungs
Describe the function of systemic circulation
Transport oxygenated blood to all areas of body
Serves rest of body, transporting oxygen + nutrients
High hydrostatic pressure, due to transporting to all of body
Describe the change in the features of arteries from proximal (heart) to distal (extremities)
- Arteries increase in number
- Arteries decrease in diameter
- Walls of arteries decrease in thickness
Describe the classes of blood vessels
- Arteries - Carry blood away from heart
- Arterioles - Smallest branch of arteries, divide to form capillaries
- Capillaries - Smallest blood vessels, exchange between blood and interstitial fluid
- Venules - Formed when capillary venues unite, collect blood from capillaries
- Veins - Venules unite to form bigger veins, return blood to heart, normally contain valves to prevent back flow of blood
Describe the superior vena cava
- Main blood vessel that brings blood back from the head and neck region + upper limb back to the RA
Describe the inferior vena cava
- Main blood vessel that brings blood back from trunk and lower back to RA
What happens to the blood transported back to the RA?
- Blood passes through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle, and then into the pulmonary trunk
Describe the pulmonary trunk
- Split into left and right pulmonary artery, left to left lung, right to right lung
What do the pulmonary arteries branch into? Describe this
Pulmonary arterioles, which form a capillary network around the alveolar synapse, where oxygen diffuses into the blood from the lungs
What does the capillary network around the alveolar synapse then form?
Pulmonary venules, which then unite to form pulmonary veins which bring oxygenated blood back to the LA
What happens to the oxygenated blood after it’s returned to the LA?
Travels through mitral valve into left ventricle, then into aorta
What are the 3 parts of the aorta?
- Ascending aorta
- Aortic arch
- Descending aorta - supplies oxygenate blood to the lower limbs
Describe the 3 vessels branching off of the aortic arch
- Brachiocephalic trunk - first from left, supplies oxygenated blood to the upper limb via the subclavian artery, head and neck via right common carotid artery
- Left common carotid artery - Supplies the head and neck of the left hand side, this is the middle branch
- Left subclavian artery - this is the rightmost branch, this supplies the left upper limb
What are the functions of the 2 blood vessels branching off of the brachiocephalic trunk?
- Right subclavian artery - supplies oxygenated blood to right upper limb
- Right common carotid artery, supplies oxygenated blood to head and neck on right side
Describe the first change the right subclavian artery undergoes as it gets further away (distal) from the heart
- At lateral first border of the first rib, the subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery, supplying the axilla (armpit)
What causes the axillary artery divided into 3 parts?
- Due to the pectoralis minor muscle, as blood flows before-behind- after the muscle for parts 1, 2 and 3 respectively
What do the arteries behind the pectoralis muscle supply?
- The shoulder and scapular regions of the upper limb
At what point does the axillary artery become the brachial artery?
- At the inferior border of the teres major (muscle that runs along lateral border of scapula)
- Supplies blood to arm
How does the brachial artery travel in relation to the bicipital aponeurosis?
- Deep in the cubital fossa
What does the brachial artery bifurcate into?
- Radial artery
- Ulna artery
How can the radial artery be used clinically?
- Pulse
- Coronary artery bypass
- Allen’s test
What are the 2 arches in the hand that connect the 2 blood vessels?
- Superficial palmar arch
- Deep palmar arch
What forms from the superficial and deep palmar arch?
- Proper palmar digital arteries to supply the fingers
Describe the superficial veins of the upper limb
- Cephalic - runs in deltopectoral groove, drains in axillary vein
- Basillic vein- drains in axillary vein
- Median cubital vein - connecting between cephalic and basillic veins, runs superficially to bicipitsal aponeurosis
What is the importance of the median cubital vein running superficially to the bicipital aponeurosis?
- Arteries and nerves are protected when drawing blood (venepuncture), means blood is only being drawn from the vein.
- The bicipital aponeurosis is very thick, meaning the nerves and arteries have lots of protection
What separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?
- The diaphragm
At what level does the thoracic aorta become the abdominal aorta?
- T12
What does the abdominal aorta bifurcate into?
- Left and right common iliac arteries
What do the left and right common iliac arteries divide into?
- The internal iliac arteries, which will branch to supply the pelvic viscera
- The external iliac arteries, which branch to supply the lower limb, and they also give superficial branches to supply the abdominal wall
What does the external iliac artery run under to become the femoral artery?
- The inguinal ligament
The femoral artery runs to become the femoral triangle. What order is the femoral triangle from lateral to medial?
- Femoral nerve
- Femoral artery
- Femoral vein
What is the profunda femoris?
- The deep femoral artery, a thick branch formed when the femoral artery descends into the thigh
- It travels posteriorly to the back of the knee
What does the deep femoral artery turn into at the knee?
- The popliteal artery (back of knee is called the popliteal fossa)
What does the popliteal artery bifurcate into?
- The anterior tibial artery - gives off many branches to supply anterior compartment of leg
- The posterior tibial artery - supplies posterior aspect of leg
What does the anterior tibial artery supply?
Dorsal surface of the foot and becomes the dorsalis pedis artery
What does the posterior tibial artery branch into?
The fibular artery
What does the fibular artery supply?
Supplies the lateral aspect of leg
Where plane does the posterior tibial artery travel down?
Medial aspect of ankle and continues to supply the sole of the foot
What are the lower limb pulses?
- Femoral pulse
- Posterior tibial pulse
- Popliteal pulse (back of knee)
- Dorsalis pedis pulse
What does the great saphenous vein drain into?
- Drains into deep femoral vein
Describe the great saphenous vein
- Longest vein in body
- Runs up medial side of lower limb, passing anterior to ankle + posterior to knee
- These are veins affected by varicose veins, when veins become enlarged, dilated
What does the small saphenous vein drain into?
Deep popliteal vein in fossa
Describe the small saphenous vein
Ascends up posterior side of leg
What are the 3 parts of the sternum?
- Manubrium (top)
- Sternal body (middle)
- Xiphoid process (bottom)
What connects the ribs to the sternum?
Costal cartilages
