Blood Vessel Hierarchy:

●​Arteries: Carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart.

●​Arterioles: Smaller branches of arteries.
●​Capillaries: Microscopic vessels that:
○​Deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells.
○​Collect carbon dioxide and waste from cells.
●​Venules: Collect blood from capillaries and channel it into veins.
●​Veins: Return oxygen-poor blood to the heart.

Capillary Details:

●​Extremely small vessels where blood cells move in a single-file line.

●​Serve as the primary exchange site for gases, nutrients, and waste.

Vascular System Length:

●​The total length of blood vessels in the human body is approximately 60,000 miles (96,500 km).
●​This is over twice the circumference of the Earth.

Types of Arteries:

1.​ Elastic (Conducting) Arteries:

i.​Largest arteries, including the aorta and its main branches.
ii.​Able to stretch and accommodate large volumes and high pressure during heart contractions.
2.​ Muscular (Distributing) Arteries:
○​Transport blood from elastic arteries to specific organs and body regions.
○​Medium-sized arteries designed for distribution.
3.​ Arterioles:
○​Smallest arteries leading to capillary beds.
○​Play a key role in regulating blood flow to tissues and maintaining blood pressure.

Vasodilation and Vasoconstriction:

1.​ Norepinephrine and Epinephrine:

○​Hormones of the endocrine system that regulate the diameter of arteries.
○​Can cause:
■​Vasodilation: Arteries widen, increasing blood flow.
■​Vasoconstriction: Arteries narrow, decreasing blood flow.
2.​ Purpose:
○​Controls blood flow to tissues based on demand.
○​Helps regulate blood pressure and oxygen delivery.

Capillaries and Microcirculation:

1.​ Structure:
○​Microscopic vessels connecting arterioles (small arteries) to venules (small veins).
○​Bridge the arterial and venous systems.
2.​ Microcirculation:
○​Refers to blood flow through arterioles, capillaries, and venules.
○​Enables the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nutrients.
3.​ Capillary Function:
○​Oxygen and Nutrient Delivery: Oxygen and nutrients move from capillaries into surrounding tissues.
○​Waste Removal: Carbon dioxide and waste products transfer from tissues into capillaries for removal.
4.​ Capillary Beds:
○​Networks of capillaries where nutrient and gas exchange occurs.
○​Critical for tissue health and metabolic function.

Veins ​
 Function:

●​Carry blood toward the heart.

●​Begin as venules in the capillary system and merge into larger veins.

Dual Role:

●​Serve as reservoirs for blood.

●​Act as a passage system for blood returning to the heart.

Capacitance Vessels:

●​Veins are called capacitance vessels because they stretch to accommodate large volumes of blood with minimal
changes in blood pressure.

Presence of Valves:

●​Veins contain one-way valves to prevent blood backflow.

●​Essential due to the low pressure in veins compared to arteries.

Blood Composition:

●​Veins transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

●​Blood is reoxygenated in the lungs before circulating again.

Two Circulatory Routes:

1.​ Systemic Circulation:

○​Blood flow from the left ventricle to the entire body.
○​Oxygen is delivered to tissues, and carbon dioxide is collected.
○​Blood returns to the right side of the heart.
2.​ Pulmonary Circulation:
○​Blood flow from the right side of the heart to the lungs.
○​Gas exchange occurs in the lungs:
■​Carbon dioxide is expelled.
■​Blood is reoxygenated.
○​Oxygenated blood returns to the left side of the heart.

Arteries of body (main)

●​The right and left common carotid artery are located in the neck and supply the head and neck with oxygenated
blood.
●​The right and left subclavian run just below the clavicle and supply the thorax, head, neck, shoulder and arms.
●​The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm.
●​The radial and ulnar arteries continue off of the brachial artery and supply the forearm.
●​The femoral is a large artery that kind of runs through the groin and upper leg, supplying the thigh and the leg.
●​The popliteal runs deep through the knee and supplies the knee and lower leg. The dorsalis

pedis is in the foot.

●​The aorta is a huge artery that rises directly from the heart and supplies the rest of the branching arteries.

These are some of the main arteries and important ones to know and understand because our arteries supply us
with our pulse. Most of these areas are where we can palpate or feel our pulses.

Systemic Arteries
Aorta

Structure and Regions of the Aorta:

1.​ Main Trunk:

○​The aorta is the primary artery of the systemic arterial system, supplying oxygenated blood to the body.
○​Distinct regions of the aorta:
■​Ascending Aorta: Rises from the heart.
■​Aortic Arch: Curves over the heart.
■​Descending Aorta: Extends downward, divided into:
 ■​ Thoracic Aorta: Runs through the chest.
■​ Abdominal Aorta: Continues through the diaphragm and abdomen.

Functions of the Aorta:

●​Supplies blood to the entire body via systemic circulation.

●​Provides critical blood flow to the heart (coronary arteries), neck, arms, abdomen, and legs.

Characteristics of the Aorta:

●​Resilience and Elasticity:

○​Can handle high-pressure blood flow from the heart.
●​Essential Role:
○​Vital for delivering oxygenated blood to all body parts.

Aortic Aneurysms:

1.​ Definition:
○​Weakening and ballooning of the aortic wall.
○​Can occur in other arteries but is especially dangerous in the aorta.
2.​ Risks and Management:
○​Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA):
■​May exist undetected for years.
■​Surgical intervention recommended for aneurysms larger than 5 cm.
■​Larger aneurysms are life-threatening without timely treatment.

Arteries of the Upper Arm

The arteries that supply blood to the arms and hands are extensions of the subclavian arteries. From the top, the right
subclavian artery extends down the arm where there are branches into more arteries including the axillary artery, the
humeral circumflex artery, the deep brachial artery, the brachial artery, the ulnar collateral artery, the radial artery, the
anterior crural interosseous artery, the ulnar artery, the deep palmar arch, superficial palmar arch, and the digital arteries.

The brachial artery is the artery that is used most commonly to do a blood pressure reading. The radial artery is
the one that we will often palpate a pulse on at the wrist.

Arteries of the Lower Limb

The femoral artery is quite large, running along the upper leg's inside, or medial aspect, and then there are the popliteal
and dorsalis pedis arteries.
The posterior tibial and dorsalis pedis arteries give us the "pedal pulses" or foot pulses, which are good to measure in
times when we're concerned about peripheral circulation.

Principle Veins of the Body

Formation of Veins:

●​Veins begin as venules, which extend from capillaries, and gradually become larger vessels.

Dural Sinuses:

●​Large veins in the cranial cavity that drain blood from the cortex and scalp.

Arterial Correspondence:

●​Many veins are named similarly to the arteries they accompany and are located alongside or near them.

Systemic Circulation:

●​Venous blood flow is divided based on the region:

○​Superior Vena Cava:
■​Drains venous blood from the upper body, including:
■​ Head
■​ Neck
■​ Upper extremities
■​ Thorax
 ○​Inferior Vena Cava:
■​Drains venous blood from the lower body, including:
■​ Lower extremities
■​ Abdomen

Role in Circulation:

●​Both the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava empty venous blood into the right atrium of the heart, completing
the systemic venous return.

Veins:

Many main arteries have corresponding veins with the same name and are located alongside or near the arteries. To
highlight some of the main arteries labelled in

●​ The internal jugular vein is up in the neck and drains the brain.
●​ The external jugular vein in the neck drains the head and neck.
●​ The subclavian veins drain the upper extremities.
●​ The axillary branches off of the subclavian vein and drains the axilla area.
●​ The brachial vein is a deep vein that helps to drain the arm along with the ulnar and radial veins.
●​ The hepatic portal system includes veins from the spleen, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, and intestines that drain
into the liver via the hepatic portal vein; from there, it goes up to return to the heart via the inferior vena cava.
●​ The iliac veins are in the ground region and help to drain the lower extremities.
●​ The femoral and popliteal veins are in the lower legs.
●​ The saphenous vein, the longest vein in the body, is a superficial vein that helps return blood from the feet up the leg.

Veins of the Head and Neck

Superior Sagittal Sinus:

●​Drains most veins on the superior surface of the cerebrum.

●​Located between the meningeal and periosteal layers of the dura mater in the falx cerebri.

Straight Sinus:

●​Smaller veins from the inferior cerebral veins drain into the great cerebral vein, which leads into the straight sinus.

Cavernous Sinus:

●​Receives blood from cerebral veins and the eye socket.

●​Drains into the internal jugular vein.

Transverse Sinuses:

●​Occipital sinus, sagittal sinus, and straight sinuses drain into the left and right transverse sinuses.

Sigmoid Sinuses:

●​Transverse sinuses flow into sigmoid sinuses, which pass through the jugular foramen.
●​Drain into the internal jugular vein.

Internal Jugular Vein:

●​Drains blood from the brain and head, running parallel to the common carotid artery.
●​Empties into the brachiocephalic vein.

Vertebral Veins:

●​Drain blood from cervical vertebrae and posterior skull.

●​Drain into the brachiocephalic veins.