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Exploring the Cardiovascular System Overview

Apr 23, 2025

Overview of the Cardiovascular System

Introduction

  • Lecture delivered over Zoom due to COVID-19.
  • Focus on the cardiovascular system, specifically following blood flow from the heart through the body and back.

The Heart

  • Function: Acts as the pump in the circulatory system, a closed loop system.
  • Structure:
    • Right side pumps blood to the lungs.
    • Left side pumps blood throughout the body.
    • Left side has thicker muscle due to the greater workload.

Pulmonary Circulation

  • Right Ventricle: Sends blood through the pulmonary trunk (artery despite blue color).
  • Pulmonary Arteries: Carry deoxygenated blood to the lungs.
  • Pulmonary Veins: Carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium and ventricle.

Systemic Circulation

  • Aorta: Large vessel sending oxygenated blood from the left ventricle throughout the body.
    • Coronary Arteries: First branches, supply the heart muscle.
    • Arch of the Aorta: Divides into:
      • Brachiocephalic trunk, Left Common Carotid Artery, Left Subclavian Artery.

Upper Limb Circulation

  • Brachiocephalic Trunk:
    • Divides into the subclavian artery and common carotid artery.
  • Subclavian Artery: Becomes Axillary Artery through the axilla, then Brachial Artery, and splits into Radial and Ulnar Arteries in the forearm.
  • Carotid Arteries:
    • Common Carotid Artery splits into External (to the face) and Internal (to the brain) Carotid Arteries.
    • Vertebral Arteries from the Subclavian contribute to brain blood supply.

Lower Limb Circulation

  • Abdominal Aorta:
    • Gives off anterior branches (Celiac Trunk, Superior and Inferior Mesenteric Arteries) for the gastrointestinal tract.
    • Lateral branches include Renal Arteries and Gonadal Arteries (Testicular/Ovarian).
  • Common Iliac Arteries:
    • Split into Internal (to pelvis) and External (to lower limb) Iliac Arteries.
    • External Iliac becomes Femoral Artery past the inguinal ligament.
    • Femoral Artery becomes Popliteal Artery at the knee.
    • Popliteal branches into Anterior and Posterior Tibial Arteries in the leg.

Venous Return

  • General Rule: Veins follow arteries but with more complexity.
  • Superficial Veins: Exist in the skin, e.g., Great Saphenous Vein in the leg.
  • Deep Veins:
    • Follow similar paths to arteries like Popliteal and Femoral Veins.
    • Merge into Common Iliac Veins, forming Inferior Vena Cava.
  • Hepatic Portal System:
    • Blood from the gastrointestinal tract goes through the liver before reaching the inferior vena cava.
  • Upper Limb and Cranial Venous System:
    • Subclavian Vein and Jugular Veins (Internal and External) drain into Brachiocephalic Veins.
    • Superior Vena Cava formed from Brachiocephalic Veins, draining into the right atrium.

Conclusion

  • The lecture provided a comprehensive overview of the major arteries and veins in the human body, emphasizing the anatomical routes from the heart to extremities and back.
  • Encouragement to explore more detailed aspects region by region in further study.