Week 3: Practical
Anatomy: Major Arteries & Veins
Arteries of the Head and Neck
a. Arch of the aorta
b. Brachiocephalic trunk – divides into right subclavian artery and Right
common carotid artery
c. Left common carotid artery – splits into
i. External carotid artery (supplying neck, face and scalp)
ii. Internal carotid artery (supplying brain via anterior and medial
cerebral arteries, eye and orbit)
Note: Are on both left and right side
d. Vertebral artery – first branch of the subclavian arteries, ascending along the
side of the neck through holes in the lateral aspect of the cervical vertebra. The
vertebral arteries unite to become the basilar artery, which supplies the circle of
Willis (a circle of arteries that supply blood to the brain).
Note: vertebral artery on both sides of neck
Veins of the Head and Neck
a. External jugular vein – drains structures of the face and scalp, empties into
subclavian vein.
b. Internal jugular vein – receives blood from brain, face and neck and joins the
sublclavian vein
c. Subclavian vein – continuation of the axillary vein, joins with internal jugular
vein to form brachiocephalic vein
d. Brachiocephalic vein – formed by union of internal jugular and subclavian
veins
e. Superior vena cava – formed by union of left and right brachiocephalic veins
and empties into right atrium of heart
Note: All veins above, except superior vena cava, are on both sides
Arteries of the Upper Limb
a. Right Subclavian artery – arises from brachiocephalic trunk and supplies bllod
to the right arm
b. Left subclavian artery – arises directly from aortic arch and supplies blood to
left arm
c. Axillary artery – continuation of subclavian artery and branches off to provide
blood to various upper limb tissues
d. Brachial artery – continuation of the axillary artery. Provides main blood
supply to arm. Divides into two major branches:
i. Radial artery – smaller terminal branch of brachial artery,
coursing along lateral forearm and ending in deep palmar arch of
hand
ii. Ulnar artery –larger terminal branch of brachial artery, coursing
along anterior forearm and ending in the superficial arch of the
hand.
Note: All the branches from Axillary artery
Veins of the Upper Limb
a. Cephalic vein – arises from lateral side of the arm, drains into axillary vein
b. Basilic vein – arises from medial side of the arm, drains into brachial vein
c. Meidan cubital vein – connects cephalic and basilic vein
Arteries of the Lower Limb
a. Femoral artery – on anterior thigh, between anterior superior iliac spine and
pubic symphhysis
b. Popliteal artery – continuation of the femoral artery in the politeal fossa behind
the knee. Supplies blood to knee joint and muscles in thigh + calf. Divides into
two major branches:
i. Anterior tibial artery – smaller terminal branch of poplital,
coursing the anterior compartment of the leg and supplying
blood to anterior leg and dorsal foot
ii. Posterior tibial artery – coursing posterior compartment of leg
and supplying blood to posterior leg and plantar surface of foot.
Terminates by dividing into medial and lateral plantar arteries.
c. Dorsalis pedis artery – continuation of anterior tibial at the ankle joint, it is
lateral to the tendon on flexor hallicus longus.
Veins of the Lower Limb
a. Great saphenous vein – travels along medial thigh to empty into femoral vein
b. Small saphenous vein – quite a large vein, superficial, courses up posterior leg,
drains into politeal vein
c. Popliteal vein- located behind knee and runs alongside popliteal artery. Formed
by the union of anterior and posterior tibial veins
d. Femoral vein – continuous with the popliteal vein into the thigh. Drains deep
thigh muscles and femur
Femoral Triangle
• Is an anatomical feature of the anterior, medial thigh.
• It is bound by three anatomical parts
1. Inguinal ligament – superior
2. Medial border of abductor longus muscle – medially
3. Medial border of sartorius muscle – laterally
• The floor comprises of the pectineus and abductor longus muscle medially & iliopsoas
muscle laterally
• The roof is formed by the fascia lata
• The contents of the femoral triangle:
 Femoral nerve
 Femoral artery
 Femoral vein
Note: vein is most medial and nerve is most lateral
Cubital Fossa
• Is a triangular anatomical area on the anterior elbow
• It is bound by:
1. Brachioradialis – laterally
2. Pronator teres – medially
3. Imaginary horizontal line between the medial and lateral epicondyles –
base/superior
• The floor comprises of the brachialis and supinator muscles
• The roof is formed by the deep fascia (reinforced bicipital aponeurosis)
• The contents of the cubital fossa are (from lateral to medial):
 Radial nerve (sometimes not included in cubital fossa)
 Biceps brachii tendon/muscle
 Brachial artery
 Median nerve
With Radial Nerve