Practical 2 - Vessels

tunica interna layers

endothelium

basal lamina

subendothelial connective tissue

internal elastic lamina

tunica media layers

smooth muscle tissues

external elastic lamina

elastic arteries

muscular arteries

arteroiles

venules

veins

arteries, veins, capillaries differences

• Arteries: Have thick, muscular, and elastic walls and a relatively small lumen to withstand high blood pressure.

• Veins: Have thinner, less muscular walls and a larger lumen. They often contain valves to prevent backflow.

• Capillaries: Have extremely thin walls, only one cell thick, and very small lumens. This allows efficient exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between blood and tissues.

Arteries

Have thick, muscular, and elastic walls and a relatively small lumen to withstand high blood pressure.

Veins

Have thinner, less muscular walls and a larger lumen. They often contain valves to prevent backflow.

Capillaries

Have extremely thin walls, only one cell thick, and very small lumens. This allows efficient exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between blood and tissues.

The structural differences help each blood vessel perform its specific function:

• Arteries: Their thick, muscular, elastic walls allow them to withstand and maintain the high pressure of blood pumped from the heart.

• Veins: Their thinner walls and larger lumens allow them to carry blood back to the heart at lower pressure. Valves prevent blood from flowing backward.

• Capillaries: Their walls are only one cell thick, making it easy for oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and wastes to diffuse between the blood and surrounding tissues.

high pressure

• Arteries: Their thick, muscular, elastic walls allow them to withstand and maintain the ___ __________ of blood pumped from the heart.

lower pressure

• Veins: Their thinner walls and larger lumens allow them to carry blood back to the heart at ______ _________. Valves prevent blood from flowing backward.

blood and surrounding tissues

Capillaries: Their walls are only one cell thick, making it easy for oxygen, nutrients, carbon dioxide, and wastes to diffuse between the __________ ___ ______________ ______________

capillary

basal lamina

varicose veins

• Pathophysiology: Weak or stretched valves cause venous reflux (blood backflow). Gravity pools blood in the leg, raising pressure and ballooning the thin superficial vein walls.

• Key Causes: Inactive muscle pumps (standing/sitting for long periods), increased pressure (pregnancy/obesity), and structural weakness (aging/genetics).

occipital artery

Anterior tibial artery

supplies anterior leg and anterior foot

aorta

Branches supply all structures in

the body

Axillary artery

supplies Structures around the axilla

Brachial artery

supplies Arm

Celiac trunk

Structures of the abdominal cavity

common carotid arteries

supplies Head

Neck

Brain

Common hepatic artery

supplies Liver

Stomach

Duodenum

Pancreas

common iliac arteries

supplies Structures of the pelvis and

lower limb

Dorsalis pedis arter

supplies ankle joint and Foot

External carotid artery

supplies neck, face, superficial head

External iliac artery

supplies anterior abdominal wall

femoral artery

supplies thigh

Inferior mesenteric artery

supplies Remainder of the large intestine

internal carotid artery

supplies brain and orbit

internal illiac artery

supplies pelvic structures

left gastric artery

supplies stomach

popliteal artery

supplies knee joint, posterior leg, posterior thigh

posterior tibial artery

supplies posterior leg and plantar foot

radial artery

supplies forearm and hand

renal arteries

supplies kidneys

splenic artery

supplies spleen, stomach, pancreas

subclavian arteries

supplies thorax and upper limb

anterior tibial artery

aorta

axillary artery

brachial artery

Brachiocephalic artery

celiac trunk

Common carotid arteries

Common hepatic artery

dorsalis pedis artery

external carotid artery

anterior and posterior tibial veins

drains leg and foot

axillary veins

drains arm and axilla

azygos veins

drains Posterior thoracic and abdom-inal wall on the right side

Esophagus

Lungs

Basilic veins

drains from Superficial structures of the

upper limb

brachial veins

drains from arm

brachiocephalic veins

drains from most structures superior to the diaphragm

cephalic veins

drains from superficial structures of the

upper limb

Common iliac veins

drains from Pelvis

Lower limb

Dural sinuses

drains from brain

external iliac veins

drains from Lower limb

external jugular veins

drains the superfacial face and neck

femoral veins

drains from thigh

gastric veins

drains from stomach

great saphenous veins

drains the superficial structures of the

lower limb

Hemiazygos and acces-sory hemiazygos vein

drains the posterior body wall

hepatic portal vein

processes blood from the spleen and digestive organs

hepatic veins

drains the arterial blood from the liver

Venous blood from the hepat-ic portal system

inferior mesenteric vein

drains the remainder of the large intestine

internal illiac veins

drains the pelvis

internal jugular veins

drains the brain, superficial head, neck

popliteal veins

drains the knee joint, leg, thigh

radial and ulnar veins

drains the forearm

splenic vein

drains the spleen

subclavian veins

drains the upper limb and upper thorax

superior mesenteric vein

drains the small intestine and much of the large intestine

vertebral veins

drains the posterior neck

vertebral artery

superficial temporal artery

maxillary artery

occipital artery

facial artery

lingual artery

external carotid artery

internal carotid artery

superior thyroid artery

common carotid artery

subclavian artery

brachiocephalic artery

superior mesenteric artery

supplies small intestine and most of the large intestine

ulnar artery

supplies forearm and hand

vertebral arteries

supplies brain

taking a pulse

Place the index and middle fingertips (avoiding the thumb, as it has its own distinct pulse) over a superficial artery where it runs over a bone or firm tissue. Press gently until you feel the rhythmic expansion/pulsation of the vessel. Count the beats for 30 seconds and multiply by 2 (or count for a full 60 seconds if the rhythm is irregular).

radial and carotid

most common areas for checking a pulse

systolic vs diastolic BP

• Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP): The peak pressure exerted by blood against the arterial walls during ventricular contraction (systole).

• Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP): The minimum pressure remaining in the arteries during ventricular relaxation (diastole).

systolic blood pressure

• The peak pressure exerted by blood against the arterial walls during ventricular contraction (systole).

Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP)

• The minimum pressure remaining in the arteries during ventricular relaxation (diastole)

120/80 mmHg

normal blood pressure

< 120 mmHg

normal systolic BP

< 80 mmHg.

normal diastolic BP