Vascular system short answers

Question 1

List and describe the location of the deep veins of the leg.

Answer 1

The deep veins of the leg accompany the major arteries and share the same name. The Anterior tibial vein, Posterior tibial vein and the Posterior fibular vein are located in the lower leg and all have venae comitantes.
The posterior tibial vein accompanies the posterior tibial artery, entering the leg posteriorly to the medial malleolus. On the posterior surface of the knee, the anterior tibial, posterior tibial and fibular veins unite to form the popliteal vein. The popliteal vein begins in the popliteal fossa and enters the thigh via the adductor canal.
Once the popliteal vein has entered the thigh, it is known as the femoral vein. It is situated anteriorly, accompanying the femoral artery.
The profunda femoris vein is the other main venous structure in the thigh. Via perforating veins, it drains blood from the thigh muscles. It then empties into the femoral vein.
The femoral vein leaves the thigh by running underneath the inguinal ligament, at which point it is known as the external iliac vein. The gluteal region is drained by inferior and superior gluteal veins. These empty into the internal iliac vein.
Once the internal and external iliac veins unite, they are known as the common iliac vein and finally, once the common iliac veins unite, they become the IVC.

Question 2

Describe the location of the carotid artery and its two major branches and comment on the relevance of atherosclerosis in the carotid artery.

Answer 2

There is a left and right common carotid artery. The right common carotid artery arises from the right brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery arises from the aortic arch. Each common carotid artery branches into the internal and external carotid artery. The internal carotid arteries continue up to the brain where they form part of the circle of willis.
The internal carotid arteries are one of the arteries most susceptible to atherosclerosis which is a major cause of ischaemic stroke. Ischaemia can occur from severe, flow-limiting stenosis of the carotid arteries caused by atherosclerotic disease and thromboembolism from carotid plaque.
Stoke may also be haemorrhagic. Some of the causes of haemorrhage include cerebral aneurysms, the main cause of which is chronic high blood pressure and atheromatous change.

Question 3

Compare the symptoms & signs of peripheral vascular disease with that of DVT’s

Answer 3

Peripheral Vascular Disease
PVD technically refers to both it usually is in reference to arterial disease.
There may be no symptoms until the condition is advanced and severe.
Signs and symptoms may include;
- Intermittent claudication – leg pain and cramps that develop during walking and disappear after rest due to ischaemia of the leg muscles caused by narrowing or occlusion of the leg arteries.
- Coldness
- Numbness
- Pins and needles
- Muscular weakness
- Blue or purple tinge to the skin
- Wounds that won’t heal (vascular ulcers)
- Blackened areas of skin or skin loss (gangrene)
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Patients may be asymptomatic.
Signs and symptoms include;
- Pain or swelling in the calf or thigh or both
- Warmth and discoloration at the site.
- redness at site of thrombus
- severe pain at site of thrombus