ACTIVITY 8 : PRACTICE ATLAS great vessels of heart posterior view

Aorta

Origin:

• Left ventricle (aortic vestibule)

Course:

• Has three regions: ascending, arch, and descending

• Ascending aorta: ascends short distance (5 cm) within pericardium

• Arch of aorta: arches diagonally and posteriorly to the left

• Descending aorta: has thoracic and abdominal parts

• Thoracic part of descending aorta shifts from left side of vertebral column to midline position as it descends

Distribution:

• All organs of body (via branches)

Branches:

• Right and left coronary

• Brachiocephalic

• Left subclavian

• Left common carotid

• Esophageal

• Bronchial

• Posterior intercostal (11 pairs)

• Subcostal

• Celiac

• Superior mesenteric

• Inferior mesenteric

• Middle suprarenal

• Renal

• Gonadal

• Inferior phrenic

• Lumbar

• Median sacral

• Continues as right and left common iliac

Comment:

• Has aortic (semilunar) valve at origin

• Large arteries do not by themselves supply structures, but do so through their branches

Inferior vena cava

Drainage:

• Everything inferior to diaphragm, except posterior abdominal wall, which drains into azygos system

Tributaries:

• Common iliac

• Lumbar

• Right testicular/ovarian

• Renal

• Right suprarenal

• Inferior phrenic

• Hepatic

Course:

• Ascends from level of L4 vertebral body, through diaphragm, to heart

Termination:

• Right atrium of heart

Comment:

• Largest vein of body

Pulmonary trunk

Origin:

• Right ventricle

Course:

• Ascends within pericardium

• Initially anterior to ascending aorta and then to its left and slightly posterior

Distribution:

• Lungs

Branches:

• Right pulmonary artery

• Left pulmonary artery

Comment:

• Conveys oxygen-poor blood from right ventricle of heart

• Has pulmonary (semilunar) valve at its origin

• Large arteries do not by themselves supply structures, but do so through their branches

Pulmonary vv.

Drainage:

• Lungs

Tributaries:

• Lobar veins

Course:

• Two veins pass through root of each lung (i.e., four pulmonary veins in total) and directly into left atrium

Termination:

• Left atrium

Comment:

• Pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood

Superior vena cava

Drainage:

• Head

• Upper limbs

• Posterior thoracic walls

• Mediastinal structures

Tributaries:

• Formed by union of right and left brachiocephalic veins

• Arch of azygos vein

Course:

• Descends in mediastinum from level of right 1st costal cartilage

Termination:

• Right atrium