Lab 32
Blood Vessels
BIOL242
Vessels - Generalities
• Peripheral distributions are the same on
the left and right side of the body except
near the heart.
• Most arteries and veins follow similar
paths and are often similarly named
• One vessel can have several names (like
a street)
• Many tissues are serviced by several
arteries and veins
Veins - Generalities
• Veins are far more variable from person ot
person than arteries
• Several veins, especially in the limbs,
have superficial and deep routes.
Superficial route usually only caries 1015% of blood at a maximum and serves to
aid in thermoregulation
Vessels to know
• Be able to identify the following arteries/veins on
a model: inferior and superior vena cava, left
and right pulmonary arteries and veins,,
common carotid, subclavian, brachiocephalic,
coronary
• thoracic and abdominal aorta, celiac, renal,
axillary, brachial, radial, ulnar, mesenteric, iliac,
peroneal, femoral, popliteal, tibial, jugular, celiac,
splenic, gastric, hepatic and saphenous.
Major
Systemic
Arteries
Figure 21-20
Branches of the Aortic Arch
• Deliver blood to head and neck:
– brachiocephalic trunk
• right subclavian artery
• right common carotid artery
– left common carotid artery
– left subclavian artery
Arteries of
Upper Limbs
Subclavian  axial
 brachial  splits
into radial, ulnar
3D Peel Away
Descending aorta
thoracic aorta 
abdominal aorta 
common illiac  to
be continued
renal
3 Unpaired Branches
of the Abdominal Aorta
• Celiac trunk, divides into:
– left gastric artery
– splenic artery
– common hepatic artery
• Superior mesenteric artery
• Left mesenteric artery
celiac
hepatic
gastric
splenic
mesenteric
iliac
Illiac  femoral 
popliteal Posterior
and anterior tibial.
Posteror tibial
gives rise to
peroneal (fibular)
Veins
• Know the veins with the same names as
arteries
• Exceptions:
– saphenous (leg) no comparable artery
– jugular (neck) like carotid arteries
Lab #32
• Look at 3 slides:
– Artery
– Vein
– Aorta
• For arteries, veins, and aorta, label the
three layers and answer the questions
• Look at models and diagrams to identify
vessels for the practical exam
Artery or Vein?
• Arteries have high numbers of elastic fibers,
which causes them to recoil when at low
pressure (or empty). Causes:
– folded or ridged endothelium (since it cannot contract)
– constricted lumen (but appears round)
• Veins do not constrict like this and they are less
resiliant so they collapse in section. Causes:
– smooth, unfolded endothelium.
– lumens look flattened and oblong