Abdomen Vascular - Midterm Review

Tunica intima

Innermost layer of blood vessel walls, consisting of endothelial cell lining with connective tissue beneath.

Tunica media

Middle layer of blood vessel walls, the thickest component, composed mainly of smooth muscle with varying amounts of elastic fibers and collagen.

Tunica adventitia

Outermost layer of blood vessel walls, composed of connective tissue, nerve fibers, and small vessel capillaries, in contact with surrounding tissue.

Arterioles

Small- and medium-sized arteries approximately 4 mm in diameter, acting as 'stopcocks' of the vascular system with circular smooth muscle layers controlling contraction and resistance.

Large arteries

Elastic arteries with less smooth muscle, including the aorta and its largest branches.

Venules

Small veins with walls mainly composed of connective tissue.

Small- and medium-sized veins

Veins with diameters from 1 to 10 mm, having a thin tunica media and including all veins except portal vein and vena cava.

Large veins

Include portal vein, superior and inferior vena cava (IVC), and main branches, characterized by a thick adventitial layer with fibrous and elastic tissues.

Venous valves

Unique to veins, these prevent retrograde movement of blood and are bicuspid inward projections of tunica intima.

Sinus

Enlarged area behind leaflets of venous valves, more numerous in lower extremities and absent in veins of thorax and abdomen.

Capillaries

Smallest vessels in the body, with walls composed primarily of a layer of endothelial cells and a small amount of basement membrane, where nutrient exchange occurs.

Common carotid arteries (CCAs)

Left CCA arises directly from the aorta; right CCA originates from the brachiocephalic artery and bifurcates into internal and external carotid arteries.

Internal carotid arteries (ICAs)

Lateral to external carotid artery (ECA), with no extracranial branches and an intracranial segment consisting of three portions: petrous, cavernous, and cerebral.

External carotid arteries

Medial to ICA, have several extracranial branches and normally do not supply blood to the brain.

ECA branches

Include superior thyroid, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, ascending pharyngeal, maxillary, and superficial temporal arteries.

Vertebral arteries

Arise from subclavian artery, ascend through cervical vertebrae, enter skull through foramen magnum, and join to form basilar artery.

Circle of Willis

Formed by branches of ICA and vertebral arteries, with ICA terminating into four branches: anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, posterior communicating, and anterior choroidal.

External jugular vein

Returns blood from portions of cranial cavity, face, and neck, emptying into subclavian vein.

Internal jugular vein

Returns blood from brain, face, and neck, courses anterolateral to the ICA and CCA, and unites with subclavian vein to form brachiocephalic vein.

Vertebral vein

Formed from numerous small tributaries, emerges from sixth cervical vertebra, and empties into brachiocephalic vein.

Ascending aorta

Begins at aortic valve, continues up and back, crossing trachea, and curves downward to become the descending aorta.

Brachiocephalic artery

4 to 5 cm in length, divides into right CCA and right subclavian at sternoclavicular joint.

Subclavian artery

Gives rise to branches that supply brain, neck, thoracic wall, and shoulder, becoming axillary artery at outer border of first rib.

Brachial artery

Begins at axilla, continues through upper arm to approximately 1 cm below elbow joint, with the largest branch being the deep brachial artery.

Ulnar artery

Usually larger than radial, courses along ulnar border of forearm, and terminates in deep and superficial palmar arch in hand.

Radial artery

Passes along radial aspect of forearm to wrist and terminates in superficial and deep palmar arches in the hand.

Cephalic vein

Superficial vein that winds around radial border of forearm and empties into axillary vein.

Basilic vein

Superficial vein that courses along ulnar aspect of forearm and joins brachial vein to form axillary vein.

Axillary vein

Usually single vein that begins at junction of brachial and basilic veins.

Brachiocephalic veins

Formed at junction of internal jugular and subclavian veins, one at each side of the base of the neck.

Superior vena cava

Formed by the junction of the two brachiocephalic veins, courses just behind the right side of the sternum.

Descending aorta

Continuation of aorta beyond aortic arch

Bronchial arteries

Branches of the descending aorta

Esophageal arteries

Branches of the descending aorta

Phrenic arteries

Branches of the descending aorta

Intercostal arteries

Branches of the descending aorta

Subcostal arteries

Branches of the descending aorta

Abdominal aorta

Begins at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra (passes through aortic hiatus)

Celiac artery

First major anterior branch of aorta, also known as celiac trunk or celiac axis

Hepatic artery

Carries oxygenated blood into liver; carries 30% of total blood flow into the liver

Portal vein

Carries remaining 70% of blood to the liver; formed at the junction of splenic and superior mesenteric veins

Superior mesenteric artery

Next anterior branch of aorta; supplies most of the small intestine and some of the large intestine

Inferior mesenteric artery

Last anterior branch of aorta; mainly supplies the large intestine

Renal arteries

Lateral branches of aorta; arise just below the superior mesenteric artery

Testicular or ovarian arteries

Anterolateral branches of the aorta; arise just below the renal arteries

Lumbar arteries

Four pairs of vessels that course laterally and posteriorly along lumbar vertebrae

Middle sacral artery

Single artery arising off the posterior aorta; arises just above the aortic bifurcation

Common femoral artery

Continuation of the external iliac artery below the inguinal ligament

Superficial femoral artery (SFA)

Courses distally, passing through the adductor canal; becomes popliteal artery

Popliteal artery

Continuation of SFA; courses behind knee in popliteal fossa

Anterior tibial artery

Passes through interosseous membrane; courses distally in the anterior compartment of leg

Posterior tibial artery

Courses medially in the posterior compartment of the leg; runs behind the medial malleolus

Great saphenous vein

Longest vein in the body; ascends the leg medially with several tributaries

Small saphenous vein

Courses posteriorly up the calf; typically terminates into the popliteal vein

Popliteal vein

Medial to popliteal artery; moves lateral as it passes through adductor canal

Common femoral vein

Begins at the confluence of the femoral and profunda femoris veins

Hepatic veins

Empty into the inferior vena cava; typically, the middle and left hepatic veins form common trunk

What is the first branch of the aortic arch?

Brachiocephalic trunk

What is the first anterior branch of the abdominal aorta?

Celiac artery

What is another name for the internal iliac arteries?

Hypogastric arteries

Where is the adductor canal?

Located in the thigh, between the quadriceps muscle and the adductor muscles

What are the three layers of blood vessel walls?

Tunica intima, tunica media, tunica adventitia

What is the innermost layer of a blood vessel called?

Tunica intima

What is the thickest layer of a blood vessel?

Tunica media

What composes the tunica adventitia?

Connective tissue, nerve fibers, and small vessel capillaries

What is the primary function of arterioles?

Control contraction and resistance in the vascular system

What distinguishes large arteries from small and medium-sized arteries?

Large arteries are elastic arteries with less smooth muscle, such as the aorta.

How do veins differ from arteries in terms of wall structure?

Veins have thinner walls, are less muscular, and contain more elastic and collagen fibers.

What are venous valves and their function?

Bicuspid inward projections of tunica intima that prevent retrograde movement of blood.

What is the smallest blood vessel in the body?

Capillaries

What is the primary site for nutrient exchange in the body?

Capillaries

Where do the common carotid arteries arise from?

Left from the aorta and right from the brachiocephalic artery.

What are the three portions of the internal carotid artery?

Petrous, cavernous, and cerebral

What arteries form the circle of Willis?

Branches of the internal carotid arteries and vertebral arteries.

What is the function of the external jugular vein?

Returns blood from portions of the cranial cavity, face, and neck.

What does the aortic arch give rise to?

Brachiocephalic artery, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery.

What is the largest branch of the brachial artery?

Deep brachial artery (profunda brachii)

What is the primary difference between the ulnar and radial arteries?

Ulnar artery is usually larger and courses along the ulnar border of the forearm.

What do the palmar arches supply?

Digital arteries in the hand.

What is the role of the vertebral arteries?

Arise from the subclavian artery and join to form the basilar artery.

What is unique about venous valves compared to arterial structures?

Venous valves prevent backflow of blood, while arteries do not have valves.

What is the diameter range for small and medium-sized veins?

1 to 10 mm

What is the significance of the anterior communicating artery?

Connects the anterior cerebral arteries.

What is the function of the internal jugular vein?

Returns blood from the brain, face, and neck.

What is the primary composition of capillary walls?

A layer of endothelial cells and a small amount of basement membrane.

What arteries supply the brain and neck from the subclavian artery?

Branches of the subclavian artery including the vertebral arteries.

What is the main function of the tunica media in blood vessels?

To provide structural support and regulate blood vessel diameter through smooth muscle contraction.

What are the major branches of the external carotid artery?

Superior thyroid, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, ascending pharyngeal, maxillary, and superficial temporal.

What vein winds around the radial border of the forearm?

Cephalic vein

Which vein courses along the ulnar aspect of the forearm?

Basilic vein

What vein joins the brachial vein to form the axillary vein?

Basilic vein

What are the paired deep veins that follow the path of the arteries in the forearm?

Radial and ulnar veins

What is the continuation of the axillary vein?

Subclavian vein

What forms the superior vena cava?

The junction of the two brachiocephalic veins

What is the first major anterior branch of the abdominal aorta?

Celiac artery (celiac trunk)

What artery supplies most of the small intestine?

Superior mesenteric artery

Which artery arises just below the renal arteries?

Testicular or ovarian arteries

What is the major tributary of the inferior vena cava in the abdomen?

Renal veins

What carries 30% of the total blood flow into the liver?

Hepatic artery

What forms the portal vein?

The junction of splenic and superior mesenteric veins