Lecture 8- Blood supply to the foregut

Question 1

The aorta can be divided into four sections:

Answer 1

the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, the thoracic (descending) aorta and the abdominal aorta

Question 2

aorta terminates at the level of

Answer 2

L4 by bifurcating into the left and right common iliac arteries.

Question 3

The ascending aorta arises from the

Answer 3

aortic orifice from the left ventricle and ascends to become the aortic arch. It is 2 inches long in length and travels with the pulmonary trunk in the pericardial sheath.

Question 4

branches of the ascending aorta

Answer 4

The left and right aortic sinuses are dilations in the ascending aorta, located at the level of the aortic valve. They give rise to the left and right coronary arteries that supply the myocardium.

Question 5

The aortic arch is a continuation of the

Answer 5

ascending aorta and begins at the level of the second sternocostal joint. It arches superiorly, posteriorly and to the left before moving inferiorly.

Question 6

The aortic arch ends at the level of the

Answer 6

T4 vertebra. The arch is still connected to the pulmonary trunk by the ligamentum arteriosum (remnant of the foetal ductus arteriosus).

Question 7

Branches of the aortic arach

Answer 7

There are three major branches arising from the aortic arch. Proximal to distal:

Brachiocephalic trunk: The first and largest branch that ascends laterally to split into the right common carotid and right subclavian arteries. These arteries supply the right side of the head and neck, and the right upper limb.

Left common carotid artery: Supplies the left side of the head and neck.

Left subclavian artery: Supplies the left upper limb.

Question 8

The thoracic (descending) aorta spans from the level of

Answer 8

T4 to T12. Continuing from the aortic arch, it initially begins to the left of the vertebral column but approaches the midline as it descends. It leaves the thorax via the aortic hiatus in the diaphragm, and becomes the abdominal aorta.

Question 9

branches of the thoracic aorta

Answer 9

• Bronchial arteries: Paired visceral branches arising laterally to supply bronchial and peribronchial tissue and visceral pleura. However, most commonly, only the paired left bronchial artery arises directly from the aorta whilst the right branches off usually from the third posterior intercostal artery.
• Mediastinal arteries: Small arteries that supply the lymph glands and loose areolar tissue in the posterior mediastinum.
• Oesophageal arteries: Unpaired visceral branches arising anteriorly to supply the oesophagus.
• Pericardial arteries: Small unpaired arteries that arise anteriorly to supply the dorsal portion of the pericardium.
• Superior phrenic arteries: Paired parietal branches that supply the superior portion of the diaphragm.
• Intercostal and subcostal arteries: Small paired arteries that branch off throughout the length of the posterior thoracic aorta. The 9 pairs of intercostal arteries supply the intercostal spaces, with the exception of the first and second (they are supplied by a branch from the subclavian artery). The subcostal arteries supply the flat abdominal wall muscles.

Question 10

The abdominal aorta is a continuation of the

Answer 10

thoracic aorta beginning at the level of the T12 vertebrae. It is approximately 13cm long and ends at the level of the L4 vertebra. At this level, the aorta terminates by bifurcating into the right and left common iliac arteries that supply the lower body.

Question 11

branches of the abdominal aorta

Answer 11

• Inferior phrenic arteries: Paired parietal arteries arising posteriorly at the level of T12. They supply the diaphragm.
• Coeliac artery: A large, unpaired visceral artery arising anteriorly at the level of T12. It is also known as the celiac trunk and supplies the liver, stomach, abdominal oesophagus, spleen, the superior duodenum and the superior pancreas.
• Superior mesenteric artery: A large, unpaired visceral artery arising anteriorly, just below the celiac artery. It supplies the distal duodenum, jejuno-ileum, ascending colon and part of the transverse colon. It arises at the lower level of L1.
• Middle suprarenal arteries: Small paired visceral arteries that arise either side posteriorly at the level of L1 to supply the adrenal glands.
• Renal arteries: Paired visceral arteries that arise laterally at the level between L1 and L2. They supply the kidneys.
• Gonadal arteries: Paired visceral arteries that arise laterally at the level of L2. Note that the male gonadal artery is referred to as the testicular artery and in females, the ovarian artery.
• Inferior mesenteric artery: A large, unpaired visceral artery that arises anteriorly at the level of L3. It supplies the large intestine from the splenic flexure to the upper part of the rectum.
• Median sacral artery: An unpaired parietal artery that arises posteriorly at the level of L4 to supply the coccyx, lumbar vertebrae and the sacrum.
• Lumbar arteries: There are four pairs of parietal lumbar arteries that arise posterolaterally between the levels of L1 and L4 to supply the abdominal wall and spinal cord.