Blood Vessels and Their Functions

These flashcards cover the key vessels in the circulatory system and their primary functions as described in the lecture notes.

Ascending aorta

Receives blood from the left ventricle.

Aortic arch

Supplies blood to the head, neck, upper limbs, and the thoracic wall.

Descending aorta

Becomes the thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta; distributes blood to thorax and abdominal organs.

Brachiocephalic artery

Branches from the aortic arch into the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery.

Pulmonary trunk

Receives less oxygenated blood from the right ventricle.

Right common carotid artery

Supplies blood to the right side of the face and neck.

Middle cerebral artery

Supplies lateral parts of the parietal, frontal, and temporal lobes of the brain.

Basilar artery

Supplies blood to the cerebellum, pons, and inner ear.

Celiac trunk

Branches into common hepatic artery, splenic artery, and left gastric artery.

Renal arteries

Supply blood to the kidneys.

Inferior mesenteric artery

Loops around the superior mesenteric artery to supply the distal parts of the large intestine.

Right subclavian artery

Supplies blood to the right upper limb.

Subclavian veins

Join with internal jugular veins to form brachiocephalic veins.

Inferior vena cava

Collects blood from the lower parts of the body and empties into the right atrium.

Great saphenous veins

Longest veins in the leg; empty into the femoral vein.