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Major Arteries in Systemic Circulation
In comparison to veins which are typically located in more superficial areas of the body, arteries are typically
located deep in well protected areas of the body.
Exiting the left ventricle of the heart and carrying oxygenated blood to the systemic circuit is the aorta, the
largest artery in the body.
The first section of the aorta that leaves the heart is the ascending aorta. Branching from the first section of the
aorta and feeding the heart itself are the right and left coronary arteries.
The large bend in the aorta soon after it leaves the heart is the aortic arch. Branching off of this large bend are
three large arteries:
a. brachiocephalic artery – branches into the right common carotid artery (which serves the head
and neck) and right subclavian artery (which passes under the right clavicle and serves the right
arm).
b. left common carotid artery – branches into the left internal carotid artery (a deep artery that
serves the brain) and the left external carotid artery (a superficial artery that serves the skin and
muscles of the head and neck).
c. left subclavian artery – a large artery that passes under the left clavicle and branches into the
vertebral artery (passes the upper vertebrae and serves part of the brain), the axillary artery (of
the armpit), and the brachial artery (that serves the left arm). The brachial artery further divides
into the radial arteries (which serve the lateral forearm) and the ulnar arteries (which serve the
medial forearm).
The next section of the aorta contained within the thorax running on the anterior side of the spine is the thoracic
aorta. Four large arteries also branch off this section of the aorta.
a. intercostal arteries (ten pairs) – supply the muscles of the thoracic wall and the ribs
b. bronchial arteries – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the lungs
c. esophageal arteries - provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the esophagus
d. phrenic arteries - provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the diaphragm
The last section of the aorta located inferior to the diaphragm is called the abdominal aorta. Several arteries
branch off this section of the aorta and serve oxygenated blood to the abdominal and pelvic organs as well as
the lower limbs.
a. celiac trunk – branches into the left gastric artery (which supplies the stomach), the splenic artery
(which serves the spleen), and the common hepatic artery (which supplies the liver).
b. superior mesenteric artery – supplies the small intestines and first ½ of the large intestine
c. renal arteries – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the kidneys
d. gonadal arteries – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the gonads (called the ovarian
arteries in females and testicular arteries in males)
e. lumbar arteries – several pairs of arteries serving the heavy muscles of the lower back and
abdominal walls
f. inferior mesenteric artery – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the second ½ of large
intestine
g. common iliac arteries – divide into the internal iliac artery (which supplies the tissue of the
bladder and rectum) and the external iliac artery (a more superficial artery which enters the thigh
and becomes the femoral artery). The femoral artery and its branch, the deep femoral artery,
provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the thigh. At the back of the knee the femoral artery
branches into the popliteal artery, which again splits into the anterior tibial artery (front) and
posterior tibial artery (back). The anterior tibial artery terminates into the dorsalis pedis artery
which supplies the dorsum of the foot.
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Major Veins in Systemic Circulation
Veins are typically located in more superficial areas of the body but some follow the course of the major
arteries. With a few exceptions the naming of these veins is identical to that of the companion arteries.
Major veins that drain into the superior vena cava, the largest vein of the upper body that drains the head and
arms
1) The radial veins (of the lateral forearm) and the ulnar veins (of the medial forearm) unite to form the
brachial vein (of the upper arm).
2) Beginning near the anterior aspect of the elbow, the antecubital (cephalic) vein (which drains the lateral
aspect of the arm) is joined by the basilic vein (which drains the medial aspect of the arm) and the
median cubital vein (the vein of the forearm most often used for drawing blood). Together, these veins
along with the brachial vein drain into the axillary vein near the armpit.
3) The axillary vein and the external jugular vein (which drains blood from the skin and muscles of the
head) empty into the subclavian vein (beneath the clavicle).
4) The vertebral vein (that runs along the upper spine) drains the posterior part of the head as the internal
jugular vein, a deeper vein, drains the dural sinuses of the brain.
5) The brachiocephalic veins of the upper chest receive blood from the subclavian vein, vertebral vein, and
internal jugular veins before joining to form the superior vena cava.
Major Veins that drain into the inferior vena cava, the largest vein of the lower body that drains the abdominal
organs and lower extremities
1) The anterior tibial vein (front), posterior tibial vein (back), and fibular vein drain the leg before
ascending into the popliteal vein and then the femoral vein (of the thigh), and finally the external iliac
vein.
2) The great saphenous veins (of the leg and thigh) receive superficial drainage of the leg beginning at the
dorsal venous arch of the foot and emptying into the femoral vein in the thigh.
3) The gonadal veins (called the ovarian veins in females and testicular veins in males) drain the gonads
and the renal veins drain the kidneys.
4) The hepatic portal vein drains the digestive tract organs and carries this blood through the liver before it
enters the systemic circulation. The hepatic veins drain the liver.
5) The internal iliac vein drains blood from the rectum and tissue of the bladder.
6) The common iliac vein which is formed from the junction of the external iliac vein and the internal iliac
vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
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Major Arteries in Systemic Circulation
In comparison to __________________________ which are typically located in more superficial areas of the
body, __________________________are typically located deep in well protected areas of the body.
Exiting the left ventricle of the heart and carrying oxygenated blood to the systemic circuit is the
__________________________, the largest artery in the body.
The first section of the aorta that leaves the heart is the __________________________. Branching from the
first section of the aorta and feeding the heart itself are the __________________________.
The large bend in the aorta soon after it leaves the heart is the __________________________. Branching off
of this large bend are three large arteries:
d. __________________________ – branches into the __________________________ (which
serves the head and neck) and __________________________ (which passes under the right
clavicle and serves the right arm).
e. __________________________ – branches into the __________________________ (a deep
artery that serves the brain) and the __________________________ (a superficial artery that
serves the skin and muscles of the head and neck).
f. __________________________ – a large artery that passes under the left clavicle and branches
into the __________________________ (passes the upper vertebrae and serves part of the
brain), the __________________________ (of the armpit), and the
__________________________ (that serves the left arm). The brachial artery further divides
into the __________________________ (which serve the lateral forearm) and the
__________________________ (which serve the medial forearm).
The next section of the aorta contained within the thorax running on the anterior side of the spine is the
__________________________. Four large arteries also branch off this section of the aorta.
e. __________________________ (ten pairs) – supply the muscles of the thoracic wall and the ribs
f. __________________________ – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the lungs
g. __________________________ - provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the esophagus
h. __________________________ - provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the diaphragm
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The last section of the aorta located inferior to the diaphragm is called the __________________________.
Several arteries branch off this section of the aorta and serve oxygenated blood to the abdominal and pelvic
organs as well as the lower limbs.
h. __________________________ – branches into the __________________________ (which
supplies the stomach), the __________________________ (which serves the spleen), and the
__________________________ (which supplies the liver).
i. __________________________ – supplies the small intestines and first ½ of the large intestine
j. __________________________ – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the kidneys
k. __________________________ – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the gonads (called
the __________________________ in females and __________________________ in males)
l. __________________________ – several pairs of arteries serving the heavy muscles of the
lower back and abdominal walls
m. __________________________ – provide oxygenated blood to the tissue of the second ½ of
large intestine
n. __________________________ – divide into the __________________________ (which
supplies the tissue of the bladder and rectum) and the __________________________ (a more
superficial artery which enters the thigh and becomes the __________________________). The
femoral artery and its branch, the __________________________, provide oxygenated blood to
the tissue of the thigh. At the back of the knee the femoral artery branches into the
__________________________, which again splits into the __________________________
(front) and __________________________ (back). The anterior tibial artery terminates into the
__________________________ which supplies the dorsum of the foot.
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Major Veins in Systemic Circulation
__________________________ are typically located in more superficial areas of the body but some follow the
course of the major __________________________. With a few exceptions the naming of these veins is
identical to that of the companion arteries.
Major veins that drain into the __________________________, the largest vein of the upper body that drains
the head and arms
1) The __________________________ (of the lateral forearm) and the __________________________
(of the medial forearm) unite to form the __________________________ (of the upper arm).
2) Beginning near the anterior aspect of the elbow, the __________________________ (which drains the
lateral aspect of the arm) is joined by the __________________________ (which drains the medial
aspect of the arm) and the __________________________ (the vein of the forearm most often used for
drawing blood). Together, these veins along with the brachial vein drain into the
__________________________near the armpit.
3) The axillary vein and the __________________________ (which drains blood from the skin and
muscles of the head) empty into the __________________________ (beneath the clavicle).
4) The __________________________ (that runs along the upper spine) drains the posterior part of the
head as the __________________________, a deeper vein, drains the dural sinuses of the brain.
5) The __________________________ of the upper chest receive blood from the subclavian vein,
vertebral vein, and internal jugular veins before joining to form the superior vena cava.
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Major Veins that drain into the __________________________, the largest vein of the lower body that drains
the abdominal organs and lower extremities
7) The __________________________ (front), __________________________ (back), and
__________________________ drain the leg before ascending into the __________________________
and then the __________________________ (of the thigh), and finally the
__________________________.
8) The __________________________ (of the leg and thigh) receive superficial drainage of the leg
beginning at the __________________________ of the foot and emptying into the femoral vein in the
thigh.
9) The __________________________ (called the __________________________ in females and
__________________________ in males) drain the gonads and the __________________________
drain the kidneys.
10) The __________________________ drains the digestive tract organs and carries this blood through the
liver before it enters the systemic circulation. The __________________________ drain the liver.
11) The __________________________ drains blood from the rectum and tissue of the bladder.
12) The __________________________ which is formed from the junction of the external iliac vein and the
internal iliac vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava.
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Major Arteries in Systemic Circulation
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abdominal aorta
anterior tibial artery
aorta
aortic arch
arteries
ascending aorta
axillary artery
brachial artery
brachiocephalic artery
bronchial arteries
celiac trunk
common hepatic artery
common iliac arteries
deep femoral artery
dorsalis pedis artery
esophageal arteries
external iliac artery
femoral artery
gonadal arteries
inferior mesenteric artery
intercostal arteries
internal iliac artery
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left common carotid artery
left external carotid artery
left gastric artery
left internal carotid artery
left subclavian artery
lumbar arteries
ovarian arteries
phrenic arteries
popliteal artery
posterior tibial artery
radial arteries
renal arteries
right and left coronary arteries
right common carotid artery
right subclavian artery
splenic artery
superior mesenteric artery
testicular arteries
thoracic aorta
ulnar arteries
veins
vertebral artery
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Major Veins in Systemic Circulation
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antecubital (cephalic) vein
anterior tibial vein
arteries
axillary vein
basilic vein
brachial vein
brachiocephalic veins
common iliac vein
dorsal venous arch
external iliac vein
external jugular vein
femoral vein
fibular vein
gonadal veins
great saphenous veins
hepatic portal vein
hepatic veins
inferior vena cava
internal iliac vein
internal jugular vein
median cubital vein
ovarian veins
popliteal vein
posterior tibial vein
radial veins
renal veins
subclavian vein
superior vena cava
testicular veins
ulnar veins
veins
vertebral vein
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