Understanding the Human Circulatory System

Nov 12, 2024

Lecture on the Circulatory System

Overview

  • Focus on vessels running to and from the heart: arteries and veins.
  • Arteries: carry blood away from the heart.
  • Veins: carry blood toward the heart.
  • Systemic circulation color coding:
    • Red: oxygen-rich arteries.
    • Blue: oxygen-poor veins.
    • Exception: pulmonary arteries (oxygen-poor) and pulmonary veins (oxygen-rich).

Arterial Circulation

The Aorta

  • Aorta: major artery leaving the heart.
    • Ascending aorta: upward part.
    • Aortic arch.
    • Descending aorta.

Coronary Arteries

  • Right and Left Coronary Arteries: nourish heart cells.
  • Associated arteries: circumflex artery, marginal artery, anterior interventricular artery.

Major Branches Off the Aorta

  1. Brachiocephalic Trunk:
    • Divides into:
      • Right Common Carotid Artery.
      • Right Subclavian Artery.
  2. Left Common Carotid Artery.
  3. Left Subclavian Artery.

Carotid Arteries

  • Right and Left Common Carotid Arteries: supply head and neck.
  • Branch into:
    • Internal Carotid Arteries (feed brain).
    • External Carotid Arteries.

Circle of Willis

  • Cerebral Arterial Circle ensures blood supply to brain despite blockages.
  • Fed by:
    • Internal Carotid Arteries.
    • Vertebral Arteries.
  • Components:
    • Anterior/posterior cerebral arteries.
    • Anterior/posterior communicating arteries.
    • Middle cerebral arteries.

Arteries of the Upper Limb

  • From Subclavian Arteries to Axillary Arteries, Brachial Arteries, Ulnar and Radial Arteries, Palmar Arch, and Digital Arteries.

Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta

  • Descending Thoracic Aorta above the diaphragm.
  • Descending Abdominal Aorta below the diaphragm.
  • Branches into:
    • Common Iliac Arteries, which further split into internal and external iliac arteries.

Major Arteries in the Thoracic Cavity

  • Internal Thoracic Arteries.
  • Anterior Intercostal Arteries.
  • Posterior Intercostal Arteries.
  • Superior and Inferior Epigastric Arteries.

Blood Flow to the Abdominal Organs

  • Celiac Trunk:

    • Branches into Left Gastric Artery, Splenic Artery, Common Hepatic Artery.
  • Superior Mesenteric Artery:

    • Feeds pancreas, small intestines, right large intestines.
  • Inferior Mesenteric Artery:

    • Feeds left large intestines.
  • Renal and Suprarenal Arteries feed kidneys and adrenal glands.

  • Gonadal Arteries go to reproductive organs.

Arteries of the Lower Limb

  • Femoral Arteries branch from external iliac arteries.
  • Lead to Deep Femoral Arteries and Popliteal Arteries.
  • Further divide into Posterior and Anterior Tibial Arteries.

Venous Circulation

Overview

  • Veins accompany arteries but notable exceptions exist.

Major Veins

  • Superior and Inferior Vena Cava bring blood back to the heart.

Drainage of the Brain

  • Dural Sinuses:
    • Include superior/inferior sagittal sinuses, straight sinus, transverse sinuses, and sigmoid sinus.

Thoracic Venous System

  • Hemiozygous and Azygous Veins.

Superficial Veins of Upper Limb

  • Basilic, Cephalic, and Median Cubital Veins.

Hepatic Portal System

  • Takes blood from digestive organs to the liver for detoxification.
  • Main veins: Hepatic Portal Vein, Inferior and Superior Mesenteric Veins, Splenic Vein.

  • Summary: The lecture provided an in-depth look at the major arteries and veins of the circulatory system, focusing on arterial and venous pathways, their branches, and specific regions they supply with blood.