Vascular System Flashcards
The vascular system of the head and neck consists of:
• Arterial blood supply
• Capillary networks
• Venous drainage
A large network of vessels within the vascular system is a
vascular plexus
Blood vessels may communicate with each other within vascular system by way of__
anastomosis (plural anastomoses)
What are Anastomosis?
cross-connection between blood vessels
Anastomosis between arteries are ___
arterio-arterial anastomosis
Anastomosis between veins are
veno-venous anastomosis
Anastomosis between arteries and veins are
arterio-venous anastomosis
Function of anastomoses
Serve as backup routes for the flow of blood if one vessel is blocked or otherwise compromised
There are how many layers or tunics for every blood vessel?
Three
What are the layers or tunics for every blood vessel?
• Tunica externa - outer connective tissue layer.
• Tunica media - middle smooth muscle layer with varying amounts of elastic fibers.
• Tunica intima - inner endothelium that lines the blood vessels.
An artery is part of the___ blood supply
arterial
Arteries begin at the____ and carries blood
heart; away from it
Each artery starts as a large vessel and branches into smaller vessels, forming___
arterioles
Arterioles branch into smaller vessels, forming____
networks of capillaries
A vein is part of the ____to drain blood from an area
venous drainage system
Smallest parts of the veins, called____, drain capillaries of their blood supply
venules
Venules coalesce to form___
larger veins
Veins travel____, carrying blood to it
to the heart
Capillaries have a___ diameter
than arterioles
smaller
Capillaries can supply blood to a larger tissue area because they are_____
more numerous and work together as a network
Capillary networks are present throughout the body for
the exchange of oxygen, metabolic waste products, and carbon dioxide between blood and tissue cells
What are different kinds of venous networks in the body?
• Superficial veins - Found immediately deep to the skin
• Deep veins - Usually accompany larger arteries in a deeper, more protected location within the tissue
Venous sinuses are_____
blood-filled spaces between two layers of tissue
Venous networks are connected by
anastomoses