Vascular System Anatomy

Question 1

Vascular System - Components

Answer 1

1. Blood
2. Systemic circulation
3. Pulmonary circulation
4. Lymphocytes
5. Lymphatic circulation

Question 2

Blood in the Systemic Circulation

Answer 2

Arterial blood: leaving the heart, bright red, high oxygenated.
Venous blood: returning to the heart, dark red, low oxygenated.

Question 3

Composition of Blood

Answer 3

Plasma: around 55%

Red Blood cells: around 45%
Platelets: less than 1%
White Blood cells: less than 1%
Developed from stem cells in bone marrow

Question 4

Plasma

Answer 4

90% water.
Ions
Proteins
Gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide)
Nutrients
Wastes
Hormones

Question 5

Red Blood Cells

Answer 5

Erythrocytes
Hemoglobin (HB): contains iron
O2 binds to the iron, each Hb can carry 4 O2.
Pick up O2 from lungs, deliver O2 to all cells of the body - red color.
Pick up CO2 from cells and deliver it back to lungs - blue color.

Question 6

White Blood Cells

Answer 6

Leucocytes 
Several types: 
- Monocytes
- Lymphocytes
- Neutrophil
- Basophil 
- Eosinophil 
Part of immune system

Question 7

Platelets

Answer 7

Thrombocytes
Stop bleeding vessel injury, blood clotting.
Part of cytoplasm
No nucleus

Question 8

Arterioles

Answer 8

Transport blood away from arteries to capillaries.

Question 9

Capillaries

Answer 9

Exchange of gases and nutrients.

connects arterioles and venules

Question 10

Venules

Answer 10

Transport blood from capillaries to veins.

Question 11

Arteries

Answer 11

Transport blood away from the heart.
Thick and strong walls, very important layer of smooth muscle.
Keeps its shape always.

Question 12

Veins

Answer 12

Transport low-oxygenated blood from venules to heart.
Thin, deformable.
Muscle pump.
Valves prevent backflow.

Question 13

Vascular Resistance

Answer 13

The resistance that blood may overcome.
Different in arterial and venous system:
- Cardiac output: High pressure (Pa), high resistance, low capacity.
- Venous return: Low pressure (Pv), low resistance, high capacity.

Question 14

Vascular System

Answer 14

Blood circulation and transportation of nutrients.
Systemic circulation
Pulmonary circulation
Lymphatic circulation

Question 15

Systemic Circulation

Answer 15

Artery: high oxygenated blood
Veins: low oxygenated blood
Closed system
Taking blood to all muscles, organs, tissues except lungs and back to the heart.
High pressure system: 100 mmHg in major arteries.
Overcome the force of gravity.
One pump: left half of heart.

Question 16

Pulmonary Circulation

Answer 16

Artery: low oxygenated blood
Veins: high oxygenated blood
Closed system
Heart - lungs - heart
Pulmonary blood pressure lower than systemic. 
Artery pressure 8-20 mm Hg at rest.

Question 17

Ascending Aorta - Location and Vessels

Answer 17

Middle mediastinum

Coronary arteries

Question 18

Aortic Arch - Location and Vessels

Answer 18

Superior mediastinum - lower border of T4
Common brachiocephalic trunk: right common carotid artery, right subclavian artery.
Left common carotid artery
Left subclavian artery

Question 19

Descending Aorta - Location and Vessels

Answer 19

Inferior posterior mediastinum - lower border of T12.
Thoracic aorta: intercostal, subcostal, phrenic arteries.
Abdominal aorta:
- Inferior phrenic arteries
- Superior and inferior mesenteric arteries
- Celiac trunk
- Renal and Gonadal arteries
- Lumbar arteries
- Common iliac arteries

Question 20

Superior Vena Cava - Connecting veins

Answer 20

Axillary and cephalic veins join to form the subclavian veins (left and right) that become the brachiocephalic veins (left and right) that merge into the superior vena cava.

Question 21

Inferior Vena Cava - Connecting Veins

Answer 21

right common iliac vein ( right external and internal iliac veins).
left common iliac vein (median sacral vein, left external and internal iliac veins).
Right and left common iliac veins merge to form the Inferior vena cava.
Left and right renal veins merge with the inferior vena cava.

Question 22

Lymphatic System

Answer 22

Supports cardiovascular system by collecting, filtering and returning interstitial fluid back to the blood stream via lymphatic vessels and filters pathogens from the blood (immune system).

Question 23

Lymphatic Pathway

Answer 23

Lymph capillaries → Lymph vessels

→ Thoracic duct → Left subclavian vein
→ Right lymphatic duct → Right subclavian vein

→ Superior vena cava

Question 24

Right Lymphatic Duct

Answer 24

Right side of head, chest and right upper limb is drained by the right lymphatic duct.

Question 25

Thoracic Duct

Answer 25

Lower limbs, abdominal area, left side of chest, head and left upper limb is drained by the thoracic duct.