Vascular anatomy of the limbs

Question 1

what part of the body does the brachiocephalic artery supply?

Answer 1

aka innominate artery, is one of the three great vessels of the aortic arch that supplies blood to the RIGHT SIDE of head, neck and upper limbs.
brachio = ‘arm’ in latin
cephalic= ‘head’ in latin

Question 2

what part of the body does the left common carotid artery supply?

Answer 2

supplies blood to supplies left of head, face and left side of neck

Question 3

what part of the body does the left subclavian artery supply?

Answer 3

supplies blood to left arm/ left upper limb

Question 4

what does the brachiocephalic artery split into?

Answer 4

the brachiocephalic artery (which supplies right side of head+neck and right upper limb) splits into
* right common carotid artery
* right subclavian artery

Question 5

why are they called subclavian arteries

Answer 5

as they are (‘sub’) underneath/below clavicle

Question 6

which part of the body is the right subclavian vein carrying blood from

Answer 6

right upper limb

Question 7

which part of the body is the left subclavian vein carrying blood from

Answer 7

left upper limb (arm)

Question 8

what is an anastomosis

Answer 8

Anastomosis= 2 similar blood vessels/structures joining together e.g. artery joining artery, or vein joining a vein

Question 9

. Collateral vessels are found around joints. Why do we need them?

Answer 9

collateral arteries: the reason we have these is to provide alternative route for blood around the joint as when we bend our arm it suppresses the artery (collateral vessels ensure our hands maintain blood supply when we bend elbow)
N.B. Collateral vessels are found around joints to allow continuous blood supply during movement at the joint

Question 10

Palmar arches anastomose with each other; these anastomosis means we can ………

Answer 10

Palmar arches anastomose with each other; these anastomosis means we can move about and maintain blood supply

Question 11

some people don’t have palmar arches, what test is done to assess collateral blood flow to the hands, generally in preparation for a procedure that has the potential to disrupt blood flow in either the radial or the ulnar artery

Answer 11

Allen test
If they have negative Allen test means that the patient likely does not have an adequate dual blood supply to the hand

Question 12

what do we mean by antecubital fossa?

Answer 12

antecubital fossa (the inside of the elbow)

Question 13

What pulse is strongest in the arm? (strongest to weakest)?

Answer 13

Axillary Pulse: Located in the armpit, where the axillary artery passes. It can be palpated by lifting the arm and feeling for the pulse deep in the axillary area.
Brachial Pulse: Found in the antecubital fossa (the inside of the elbow) at the elbow.
Radial Pulse: Located at the lateral side of the wrist.
Ulnar Pulse: Located at the medial side of the wrist.

Question 14

what do we mean by DEEP veins?

Answer 14

deep veins are within the muscular compartments + have the same name as the arteries

Question 15

what do we mean by SUPERFICIAL veins?

Answer 15

these are found outside of the muscle compartments (the ones closest to skin surface) superficial veins are found in the superficial fascia

Question 16

When you get standard blood taken from vein in arm, what vein is it usually from?

Answer 16

median cubital vein

Question 17

if something anatomical is called ‘common’, what does that mean?

Answer 17

it means its going to split/ biforcate e.g. common iliac artery splits into internal + external iliac artery
common carotid artery splits into internal + external carotid artery

Question 18

‘geno’ is latin for what?

Answer 18

geno is latin for knee e.g. genicular arteries are arteries of the knee

Question 19

the dorsalis pedis pulse is lateral to which tendon

Answer 19

extensor hallucis longus (muscle that extends big toe) lateral of this thin muscle you can find dorsalis pedis pulse

Question 20

muscles are attached to bone by what?

Answer 20

muscles are attached to bone by tendons