Circulatory System – Major Arteries & Veins of the Body

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering the principal arteries and veins of the thoracic cavity, head and neck, brain, abdominopelvic organs, and limbs, as outlined in the lecture notes.

What are the three main artery branches that arise directly from the arch of the aorta?

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

Which two arteries branch from the brachiocephalic trunk?

Right common carotid artery and right subclavian artery.

The right subclavian artery gives rise to what artery that supplies the brainstem through the foramen magnum?

Right vertebral artery.

Name the three artery branches of the thyrocervical trunk.

Inferior thyroid artery, transverse cervical artery, and suprascapular artery.

Into which artery does the subclavian artery continue once it crosses the first rib?

Axillary artery.

The axillary artery becomes the brachial artery at what anatomical landmark?

Inferior border of the teres major muscle.

Which two main arteries branch from the brachial artery in the forearm?

Radial artery and ulnar artery.

Which arterial arches supply the hand and digits?

Superficial palmar arch and deep palmar arch.

Which two arteries encircle the surgical neck of the humerus?

Anterior circumflex humeral artery and posterior circumflex humeral artery.

Which artery is the primary supplier of blood to the medial forearm?

Ulnar artery.

Which arteries form most of the cerebral arterial circle (Circle of Willis)?

Anterior cerebral, anterior communicating, posterior communicating, posterior cerebral, and internal carotid arteries (with the pituitary gland in the centre).

Which artery enters the skull via the carotid canal?

Internal carotid artery.

Name the three artery branches of the celiac trunk.

Left gastric artery, splenic artery, and common hepatic artery.

List the six branches of the common hepatic artery.

Hepatic artery proper, right gastric artery, gastroduodenal artery, cystic artery, right hepatic artery, and left hepatic artery.

What are the two named branches of the splenic artery?

Pancreatic branches and left gastro‐omental (gastroepiploic) artery.

Which five arteries arise from the superior mesenteric artery?

Inferior pancreaticoduodenal, middle colic, right colic, ileocolic, and intestinal (jejunal/ileal) arteries.

Name the three main branches of the inferior mesenteric artery.

Left colic artery, sigmoid arteries, and superior rectal artery.

Which arteries supply the adrenal glands?

Superior, middle, and inferior adrenal (suprarenal) arteries.

What two paired arteries supply the diaphragm from above and below?

Superior phrenic arteries (above) and inferior phrenic arteries (below).

Which large paired arteries supply the kidneys?

Renal arteries.

What ligament marks the transition from external iliac artery to femoral artery?

Inguinal ligament.

Which artery runs through the posterior knee and divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries?

Popliteal artery.

Which artery gives rise to the fibular (peroneal) artery?

Posterior tibial artery.

What artery on the dorsum of the foot is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery?

Dorsalis pedis artery.

Name the two terminal artery branches of the plantar arch.

Medial plantar artery and lateral plantar artery.

Which vein is formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins?

Superior vena cava.

List the main tributaries of the right brachiocephalic vein.

Right internal thoracic, right subclavian, right external jugular, right vertebral, and right internal jugular veins.

Which vein drains most of the posterior intercostal veins on the right side?

Azygos vein.

What vein is the continuation of the basilic vein in the axilla?

Axillary vein.

Which superficial vein of the upper limb courses along the lateral forearm and arm?

Cephalic vein.

What venous network connects the cephalic and basilic veins at the elbow?

Median cubital (antecubital) vein.

Which sinus directly drains into the internal jugular vein?

Sigmoid sinus.

Name the dural venous sinus located at the base of the dorsum sellae that receives blood from the inferior sagittal sinus.

Straight sinus.

Which large vein carries nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver?

Hepatic portal vein.

Name the three tributaries of the inferior mesenteric vein.

Left colic vein, sigmoid veins, and superior rectal vein.

The splenic vein receives blood from which three main tributaries?

Inferior mesenteric vein, pancreatic veins, and left gastro-omental vein.

Which five tributaries drain into the superior mesenteric vein?

Right gastro-omental, inferior pancreaticoduodenal, middle colic, right colic, and ileocolic veins.

Which paired veins drain the adrenal glands?

Right and left adrenal (suprarenal) veins.

Which large paired veins drain the kidneys directly into the inferior vena cava?

Right and left renal veins.

What two veins unite to form the common iliac vein on each side?

External iliac vein and internal iliac vein.

Which superficial vein ascends along the medial side of the lower limb and empties into the femoral vein?

Great saphenous vein.

Which superficial vein runs along the posterior calf and drains into the popliteal vein?

Small saphenous vein.

Name the arches that drain the plantar surface and dorsum of the foot.

Plantar venous arch (sole) and dorsal venous arch (dorsum).

Which vein collects blood from the posterior tibial, anterior tibial, and fibular veins?

Popliteal vein.

What are the main tributaries of the internal iliac vein?

Inferior gluteal, internal pudendal, obturator, and lateral sacral veins.

Which vein accompanies the inferior epigastric artery and empties into the external iliac vein?

Inferior epigastric vein (not explicitly listed but understood from general anatomy).

Which artery supplies the lateral aspect of the upper thigh and is a branch of the deep femoral?

Lateral femoral circumflex artery.

Which artery supplies the medial femoral neck and head via the acetabular branch?

Medial femoral circumflex artery.

What artery descends toward the knee to participate in the genicular anastomosis?

Descending genicular artery.

Which artery supplies the meninges through the foramen spinosum?

Middle meningeal artery (branch of maxillary artery).

Which artery is the terminal branch of the external carotid that supplies the scalp?

Superficial temporal artery.

Which pair of arteries anastomose on the inferior surface of the brainstem to form the basilar artery?

Right and left vertebral arteries.

Which cerebral artery supplies most of the lateral cerebral cortex, including motor and sensory areas of the upper limb and face?

Middle cerebral artery.

Which cerebral artery supplies the medial surfaces of the frontal and parietal lobes?

Anterior cerebral artery.

Which cerebral artery supplies the occipital lobe and inferior temporal lobe?

Posterior cerebral artery.

Which veins drain the surface of the cerebral hemispheres into the dural venous sinuses?

Superficial cerebral veins.

Which paired sinuses run along the margin of the tentorium cerebelli and drain into the sigmoid sinuses?

Transverse sinuses.

Which artery passes through the inguinal ligament to change names from external iliac to femoral?

External iliac artery becomes femoral artery at the inguinal ligament.

Name the two main communicating arteries in the Circle of Willis?

Anterior communicating artery and posterior communicating arteries.