Major Arteries

• • Single large vessel exiting the right ventricle that divides to form the right and left pulmonary arteries?

  pulmonary trunk
• • Left and right vessels that form from the pulmonary trunk and lead to smaller arterioles and eventually to the pulmonary capillaries?

  pulmonary arteries
• • Two sets of paired vessels—one pair on each side—that are formed from the small venules, leading away from the pulmonary capillaries to flow into the left atrium?

  pumlmonary veins
• • Largest artery in the body, originating from the left ventricle and descending to the abdominal region, where it bifurcates into the common iliac arteries at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra; arteries originating from the aorta distribute blood to virtually all tissues of the body?

  aorta
• • Initial portion of the aorta, rising superiorly from the left ventricle for a distance of approximately 5 cm?

  ascending aorta
• • Graceful arc to the left that connects the ascending aorta to the descending aorta; ends at the intervertebral disk between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae?

  aortic arch
• • Portion of the aorta that continues inferiorly past the end of the aortic arch; subdivided into the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta?

  descending aorta
• • Portion of the descending aorta superior to the aortic hiatus?

  Thoracic aorta
• • Portion of the aorta inferior to the aortic hiatus and superior to the common iliac arteries?

  Abdominal aorta
• • Single vessel located on the right side of the body; the first vessel branching from the aortic arch
  • gives rise to the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery
  • supplies blood to the head, neck, upper limb, and wall of the thoracic region?

  Brachiocephalic artery
• • The right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery while the left subclavian artery arises from the aortic arch
  • gives rise to the internal thoracic, vertebral, and thyrocervical arteries
  • supplies blood to the arms, chest, shoulders, back, and central nervous system?

  Subclavian artery
• • Also called the mammary artery
  • arises from the subclavian artery
  • supplies blood to the thymus, pericardium of the heart, and anterior chest wall?

  Internal thoracic artery
• • Arises from the subclavian artery and passes through the vertebral foramen through the foramen magnum to the brain
  • joins with the internal carotid artery to form the arterial circle
  • supplies blood to the brain and spinal cord?

  Vertebral artery
• • Arises from the subclavian artery
  • supplies blood to the thyroid, the cervical region, the upper back, and shoulder?

  Thyrocervical artery
• • The right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery arises from the aortic arch
  • each gives rise to the external and internal carotid arteries
  • supplies the respective sides of the head and neck?

  Common carotid artery
• • Arises from the common carotid artery
  • supplies blood to numerous structures within the face, lower jaw, neck, esophagus, and larynx?

  External carotid artery
• • Arises from the common carotid artery and begins with the carotid sinus
  • goes through the carotid canal of the temporal bone to the base of the brain; combines with the branches of the vertebral artery, forming the arterial circle
  • supplies blood to the brain?

  Internal carotid artery
• • An anastomosis located at the base of the brain that ensures continual blood supply
  • formed from the branches of the internal carotid and vertebral arteries
  • supplies blood to the brain?

  Arterial cerebral artery
• • Arises from the internal carotid artery
  • supplies blood to the frontal lobe of the cerebrum?

  Anterior cerebral artery
• • Another branch of the internal carotid artery
  • supplies blood to the temporal and parietal lobes of the cerebrum?

  Middle cerebral artery
• • Branch of the internal carotid artery
  • supplies blood to the eyes?

  Ophthalmic artery
• • An anastomosis of the right and left internal carotid arteries
  • supplies blood to the brain?

  Anterior communicating artery
• • Branches of the posterior cerebral artery that form part of the posterior portion of the arterial circle
  • supplies blood to the brain?

  Posterior communicating artery
• • Branch of the basilar artery that forms a portion of the posterior segment of the arterial circle of Willis
  • supplies blood to the posterior portion of the cerebrum and brain stem?

  Posterior cerebral artery
• • Formed from the fusion of the two vertebral arteries
  • sends branches to the cerebellum, brain stem, and the posterior cerebral arteries; the main blood supply to the brain stem?

  Basilar artery
• • A group of arterial branches of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the viscera (i.e., organs) of the thorax?

  visceral branches
• • Systemic branch from the aorta that provides oxygenated blood to the lungs
  • this blood supply is in addition to the pulmonary circuit that brings blood for oxygenation?

  bronchial artery
• • Branch of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the pericardium?

  pericardial artery
• • Branch of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the esophagus?

  esophageal artery
• • Branch of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the mediastinum?

  Mediastinal artery
• • Also called somatic branches, a group of arterial branches of the thoracic aorta
  • include those that supply blood to the thoracic wall, vertebral column, and the superior surface of the diaphragm?


  parietal branches
• • Branch of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the muscles of the thoracic cavity and vertebral column?

  intercostal artery
• • Branch of the thoracic aorta
  • supplies blood to the superior surface of the diaphragm?

  superior phrenic artery
• • Also called the celiac artery; a major branch of the abdominal aorta
  • gives rise to the left gastric artery, the splenic artery, and the common hepatic artery that forms the hepatic artery to the liver, the right gastric artery to the stomach, and the cystic artery to the gall bladder?

  celiac trunk
• • Branch of the celiac trunk
  • supplies blood to the stomach?

  left gastric artery
• • Branch of the celiac trunk
  • supplies blood to the spleen?

  splenic artery
• • Branch of the celiac trunk that forms the hepatic artery, the right gastric artery, and the cystic artery?

  common hepatic artery
• • Branch of the common hepatic artery
  • supplies systemic blood to the liver?

  hepatic artery proper
• • Branch of the common hepatic artery
  • supplies blood to the stomach?

  right gastric artery
• • Branch of the common hepatic artery
  • supplies blood to the gall bladder?

  cystic artery