Vascular System Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding the anatomy and physiology of the vascular system, including functions of arteries and veins, specific vessel names, and conditions related to vascular health.

Blood is transported away from the heart through __.

arteries

The __ is the main vessel that carries blood back to the heart from the lower body.

inferior vena cava

are small blood vessels where the exchange of materials between blood and tissues occurs.

capillaries

Veins contain __ that prevent backflow of blood.

valves

The is the largest artery in the body and branches into several important arteries.

aorta

Arteries can be divided into progressively smaller branches, with the smallest being __.

arterioles

The vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart is called the .

pulmonary vein

The supplies blood to the liver from the aorta.

celiac trunk

The drains blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver.

portal vein

In a healthy artery, the three layers are the tunica intima, tunica media, and _.

tunica adventitia

The veins are large veins that drain blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava.

hepatic

Arteriosclerosis refers to the thickening and hardening of walls.

arterial

The term refers to a localized dilation of an artery, often occurring in the abdominal aorta.

aneurysm

is a specific form of arteriosclerosis characterized by plaque buildup inside the arteries.

Atherosclerosis

The left renal vein flows from the kidney to the _.

inferior vena cava

are used to image the flow of blood in vessels, particularly evaluating for blockages.

Doppler ultrasound

The branches of the abdominal aorta include the celiac trunk and the artery.

superior mesenteric

is a condition that can occur due to chronic portal vein obstruction, leading to collateral circulation.

Cavernous transformation of the portal vein

The arteries are responsible for supplying blood to the kidneys.

renal

___ flow is the normal direction of blood flow in the portal vein.

Hepatopetal

The vein carries blood from the spleen to the portal vein.

splenic