Blood Vessels
PURPOSE:
 To develop skills in exposing and identifying the major arteries
and veins of the human body.
 To follow each blood vessel to its branches (arteries) or tributaries
(veins).
 To determine the blood supply and drainage of each body organ.
PROCEDURE
The heart and blood vessels form the cardiovascular system which is
composed of
1. arteries, high pressure lines that branch further and further from
the heart. Arteries eventually branch into:
2. capillaries, exchange vessels in close contact with tissue cells.
Capillaries then remerge into:
3. veins, low pressure lines that form tributaries ultimately leading
back to the heart.
Two major circuits form the entire cardiovascular system: the pulmonary
circuit including branches from the pulmonary trunk and tributaries to the
pulmonary veins, and the systemic circuit including branches from the aorta
(the largest artery of the body) and tributaries to 3 major veins, the coronary
sinus, and superior and inferior vena cavae (the body’s largest vein).
Using the Atlas of Clinical Gross Anatomy and the Anatomy Dissector, you
will describe the position of each blood vessel listed in the following tables
relative to other regional structures. Positions of arteries are described according
to vessels delivering blood to them from the aorta and the artery’s final
destination (the organ, lobe of the organ, layer of the organ (e.g. the myocardium
of the heart)). Positions of veins are described by the organ, lobe or layer that
they drain, and the larger vein that they drain into.
By following each blood vessel on a prosected cadaver, you will also see
the sequence of vessels leading to and from each organ. You may have to
carefully clear surrounding connective tissue to see certain vessels.
31
Branches from the Ascending Aorta
Aortic Branch
Next Branch
Final Destination
(Organ, Lobe, Layer,
etc)
Right Coronary a.
1
2
Left Coronary a.
1
2
Tributaries to Coronary Sinus
Initial Source (Region
Major Vein
of the heart)
R anterior myocardium
L anterior myocardium
R posterior
myocardium
L posterior
myocardium
R border myocardium
Branches from the Aortic Arch
Next Branch
Final Destination
(Organ, Lobe, Layer,
etc)
Brachiocephalic a.
1
2
Left Common Carotid a. 1
2
Left Subclavian a.
1
2
3
4
5
Aortic Branch
32
NOTES:
1. Describe the branching of the common carotid arteries:
2. Which organs are supplied by each branch of the subclavian arteries?
3. What is the Circle of Willis? List the blood vessels that make up this structure.
Tributaries to the Superior Vena Cava
Initial Source (Organ,
Major Vein
Final Tributary to
Lobe, Layer, etc.)
Superior Vena Cava
Azygous vein
Brachiocephalic veins
33
NOTES:
1. What structures (tributaries?) form the internal jugular vein?
2. Name the venous tributaries leading to the subclavian veins and each of their
sources.
3. What are the 2 lymphatic tributaries entering the subclavian veins. Describe
how each are formed. (that is - what lymphatic vessels lead to each of these final
lymphatic ducts?)
34
Branches from the Descending (Thoracic) Aorta
Aortic Branch
Final Destination
Other sources of
(Organ, Lobe, Layer,
corresponding arteries
etc)
Posterior intercostal a
Bronchial a.
Esophageal aa.
Superior phrenic a.
Branches from the Descending (Abdominal) Aorta
Aortic Branch
Next
Final
Other sources of
branch?
Destination corresponding arteries
(Organ,
Lobe,
Layer, etc)
Inferior Phrenic a.
Celiac a.
1
2
3
Superior mesenteric a.
Renal a.
Lumbar a.
Ovarian or Testicular
(Spermatic) a.
Inferior mesenteric a.
Branches from the Descending (Pelvic) Aorta
Aortic Branch
Next branch?
Final Destination (Organ, Lobe,
Layer, etc)
Common Iliac a.
1
2
Middle sacral a.
35
Tributaries to Inferior Vena Cava
Initial Source (Organ,
Major Vein
Final Tributary to
Lobe, Layer, etc.)
Inferior Vena Cava
Hepatic Veins
Phrenic veins (inferior?
Superior?)
R suprarenal vein
Renal veins
R Ovarian or Spermatic
(Testicular) vein
Lumbar veins (mostly
part of azygos network)
Common Iliac vein
Middle sacral vein
NOTES:
1. The inferior vena cava passes from the pelvic region through the thoracic
region of the body, yet receives blood from tributaries draining the abdominal,
pelvic and lower limb regions only (not the thoracic region). Explain:
a. How the thorax structures are drained by veins and
b. The major advantage of having no tributaries to the thoracic inferior vena
cava. (HINT: Consider venous return).
36
2. Many arteries found in the abdominal region such as the splenic a., gastric
aa., superior and inferior mesenteric aa. have corresponding veins that do not
drain into the inferior vena cava.
a. Where do these corresponding veins lead?
b. Show the relative positions of these tributaries and how this system ultimately
leads to the inferior vena cava using a flow chart.
37