Systemic Circuit

Important functional patterns

Peripheral distribution of arteries and
veins on the left and right sides of the
body are generally identical, except near
the heart
Corresponding arteries and veins run
parallel to each other

Important functional patterns

A single vessel may have several names
as it crosses specific anatomical
boundaries
Tissues and organs are usually serviced
by several arteries and veins
Adjacent arteries and veins anastomose

The Systemic Circuit

Ascending Aorta
begins at the left
ventricle; left and
right coronary
arteries originate at
its base (superior to
aortic valve)

The Systemic Circuit

The three branches
from the aortic arch
are the
Brachiocephalic Trunk
Left Common Carotid
Left Subclavian Artery
Brachiocephalic Trunk
Right Common Carotid
Right Subclavian

The Systemic Circuit

Subclavian Arteries branches into 3

vessels before leaving the thoracic cavity:
1. Internal Thoracic Artery pericardium &
interior chest wall
2. Vertebral Artery brain & spinal cord
3. Thyrocervical trunk neck, shoulders and
upper back

Branches of the Subclavian Artery

The Systemic Circuit

Subclavian Artery
extends past the
clavicle & becomes
the Axillary Artery
Axillary branches
Humeral Circumflex
Brachial Artery
Radial
Ulnar

The Systemic Circuit

Common Carotid
Arteries branch into
External Carotid
oesophagus, pharynx,
larynx and lower face
Internal Carotid brain

The Systemic Circuit

The Descending
Aorta is divided by
the diaphragm into
Thoracic Aorta
Abdominal Aorta

The Systemic Circuit

Thoracic Aorta
Begins at vertebra T5
Penetrates diaphragm at vertebra T12
Travels within mediastinum on posterior
thoracic wall slightly to the left of the vertebral
column
Branches into
Visceral Arteries (unpaired)
Parietal Arteries (paired)

The Systemic Circuit

Visceral Branches of the Thoracic Aorta
Bronchial Artery tissues of lungs not involved in
gaseous exchange
Pericardial Artery pericardium
Oesophageal Artery oesophagus
Mediastinal Artery - mediastinum

The Systemic Circuit

Parietal branches of the Thoracic Aorta

1. Intercostal arteries chest muscles

and vertebral column, spinal cord, back
muscles & skin.
2. Superior Phrenic arteries superior
surface of diaphragm.

Abdominal Aorta
Begins immediately inferior to the
diaphragm
At L4 it splits into the right and left
common iliac arteries

Abdominal Aorta
Major branches to visceral organs are
unpaired and arise on the anterior surface
of the abdominal aorta
Branches to body wall, kidneys, urinary
bladder and structures outside the
peritoneal lining are paired and extend
from the lateral surface

Abdominal Aorta

Gives rise to 3
unpaired arteries:

1.

Celiac Trunk

1. Inferior Phrenic

2.

Superior Mesenteric

2. Suprarenal

3.

Inferior Mesenteric

3. Renal

Gives rise to 5 paired

arteries:

4. Gonadal
5. Lumbar

Celiac Trunk

Branches into:

Left gastric artery stomach and inferior

oesophagus

Splenic artery - spleen and stomach

Common Hepatic artery - liver, stomach,

gallbladder and duodenal area

Superior Mesenteric
Supplies blood to:
pancreas and duodenum, small intestine
and most of the large intestine.

Inferior Mesenteric Artery

Supplies blood to:
- terminal portions of colon and rectum

Abdominal Aorta Paired Branches

Inferior Phrenic Arteries
supplies blood to the inferior surface of the diaphragm
and inferior oesophagus

Suprarenal Arteries
Adrenal glands

Gonadal Arteries
Testes & scrotum; ovaries, uterine tubes & uterus

Lumbar Arteries
Vertebrae, spinal cord & abdominal wall

Systemic Veins of the Head and

Neck
Internal Jugular veins empty into the
brachiocephalic veins
External Jugular veins empty into the
Subclavian vein
Vertebral Veins empty into the
brachiocephalic veins

Veins of the Arm

Brachial vein becomes the Axillary Vein
Axillary vein enters axilla and empties into
the Subclavian vein
Subclavian vein merges with the Internal
Jugular vein forming the Brachiocephalic
Vein

Right and Left Brachiocephalic

Veins
Merge to form the
Superior Vena Cava
at the level of the first
and second ribs

Azygos & Hemiazygos Veins

Azygos vein is the
main tributary of the
superior vena cava
Hemiazygos vein
empty into Azygos
vein

Azygos & Hemiazygos Veins

Chief collecting vessels of the thorax
Collect blood from:
Intercostal Veins
Oesophageal Veins
Veins draining other mediastinal structures

Common iliac Vein

External & Internal
iliac Veins fuse to
form the Common
iliac Vein
Right and Left
Common iliac Veins
fuse to form the
Inferior Vena Cava

Inferior Vena Cava

Collects blood from

6 major veins:
1. Lumbar Veins
2. Gonadal Veins (left
gonadal empties into
the left renal vein)
3. Hepatic Veins

4. Renal Veins (largest

tributaries)
5. Suprarenal Veins
(left suprarenal
empties into the left
renal vein)
6. Phrenic Veins (left
phrenic vein empties
into left renal vein)

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/_/viewer.aspx?path=MosbyMD&name=inferior_vena_cava.jpg

Hepatic Portal System

Hepatic Portal Vein

Delivers venous blood to liver
Receives blood from 3 large veins
1. Inferior Mesenteric Vein
2. Splenic Vein - formed by the union of the inferior
mesenteric and veins from the spleen, lateral
border of the stomach and pancreas
3. Superior Mesenteric vein stomach, small
intestine and first 2/3 of the large intestine

Hepatic Portal System

Hepatic Portal System

Superior Mesenteric and Splenic Veins
fuse to form the Hepatic Portal Vein
Hepatic Portal Vein then receives blood
from:
Left and Right Gastric veins medial
portion of stomach
Cystic Vein from gallbladder

Hepatic Portal System

Blood enters the liver via the hepatic portal
vein
Blood leaves the liver via the Hepatic Vein
which then enters the Inferior Vena Cava