Chapter 14:
Blood Vessels and
Blood Circulation
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Key Terms
aorta
endothelium
vasomotor
arteriole
pulse
vein
artery
sinusoid
vena cava
baroreceptor
sphygmomanometer
vasodilation
capillary
valve
venule
compliance
vasoconstriction
elasticity
venous sinus
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
The Vascular System
• A closed system of vessels that transports blood to and
from the lungs and body tissues
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-1 The cardiovascular system.
Which vessels carry blood
away from the heart?
Which carry blood toward
the heart?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview of Blood Vessels
Learning Outcomes
1. Differentiate among the five types
of blood vessels with regard to
structure and function.
2. Compare the pulmonary and
systemic circuits relative to
location and function.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview of Blood Vessels
Blood Vessel Types
• Arteries
• Arterioles
• Capillaries
• Venules
• Veins
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-2 Sections of small blood vessels.
Which vessels have valves that control blood flow?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview of Blood Vessels
Blood Circuits
• The pulmonary circuit
– Pulmonary artery and its branches
– Capillaries in lungs
– Pulmonary veins
• The systemic circuit
– Aorta
– Systemic capillaries
– Systemic veins
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-1 The cardiovascular system.
Which vessels carry blood
away from the heart?
Which carry blood toward
the heart?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview of Blood Vessels
Vessel Structure
• Three tunics (coats) of arteries and veins
• Inner (endothelium)
• Middle (smooth [voluntary] muscle)
– Controlled by autonomic nervous system
– Thinner in veins
• Outer (supporting connective tissue)
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-3 Cross section of an artery and vein.
Which type of vessel shown has a thicker wall?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Overview of Blood Vessels
Checkpoints
14-1 What are the five types of blood vessels?
14-2 What are the two blood circuits and what areas
does each serve?
14-3 What type of tissue makes up the middle tunic of
arteries and veins, and how is this tissue controlled?
14-4 How many cell layers make up the wall of a
capillary?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Learning Outcomes
3. Name the four sections of the
aorta and list the main branches
of each section.
4. Trace the pathway of blood
through the main arteries of the
upper and lower limbs.
5. Define anastomosis, cite its
function, and give several
examples.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
The Aorta
• Largest artery
• Receives blood from left ventricle
• Branches to all organs
Parts of the Aorta
• Ascending aorta
• Aortic arch
• Thoracic aorta
• Abdominal aorta
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Branches of the Ascending Aorta and Aortic Arch
• Ascending aorta
– Left and right coronary arteries
• Aortic arch
– Brachiocephalic artery
• Right subclavian artery
• Right common carotid artery
– Left common carotid artery
– Left subclavian artery
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Branches of the Thoracic Aorta
• Branches to chest wall, esophagus, and bronchi
• Intercostal arteries
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Branches of the Abdominal Aorta
• Celiac trunk
– Left gastric artery
– Splenic artery
– Hepatic artery
• Superior mesenteric artery
• Inferior mesenteric artery
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Branches of the Abdominal Aorta (continued)
• Paired lateral branches
– Phrenic arteries
– Suprarenal arteries
– Renal arteries
– Ovarian and testicular arteries
– Lumbar arteries
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-4 The aorta and
its branches.
How many brachiocephalic
arteries are there?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Arteries to the Pelvis and Leg
• Internal iliac arteries
• External iliac arteries
– Femoral artery
• Popliteal artery
Tibial arteries
Dorsalis pedis
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Arteries That Branch to the Arm and Head
• External carotid artery
• Internal carotid artery
• Subclavian artery
– Vertebral artery
– Axillary artery
• Brachial artery
Radial artery
Ulnar artery
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-5 Principal systemic arteries.
What large vessels
branch from the
terminal aorta?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Anastomoses
• A communication between two vessels
• Examples
– Circle of Willis
– Superficial palmar arch
– Mesenteric arches
– Arterial arches
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-6 Arteries that supply the brain.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Arteries
Checkpoints
14-5 What are the subdivisions of the aorta, the largest
artery?
14-6 What are the three branches of the aortic arch?
14-7 What areas are supplied by the brachiocephalic
artery?
14-8 What is an anastomosis?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Veins
Learning Outcomes
6. Compare superficial and deep
veins and give examples of each
type.
7. Name the main vessels that drain
into the superior and inferior
venae cavae.
8. Define venous sinus and give
several examples of venous
sinuses.
9. Describe the structure and
function of the hepatic portal
system.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Veins
• Superficial veins
– Cephalic, basilic, median cubital veins
– Saphenous veins
• Deep veins
– Femoral and iliac vessels
– Brachial, axillary, subclavian vessels
– Jugular veins
– Brachiocephalic vein
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Veins
The Venae Cavae and Their Tributaries
• Superior vena cava
– Head, neck, upper extremities
• Azygos vein
– Chest wall
• Inferior vena cava
– Right, left veins from paired parts, organs
– Unpaired veins from spleen, digestive tract
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-7 Principal systemic veins.
How many brachiocephalic
veins are there?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic veins
Venous Sinuses
• Coronary sinus
• Cranial venous sinuses
– Cavernous sinuses
• Petrosal sinuses
– Superior sagittal sinus
• Confluence of sinuses
– Transverse sinuses (lateral sinuses)
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Veins
The Hepatic Portal System
• Carries blood from abdominal organs to liver
– Superior mesenteric vein
– Splenic vein
– Gastric, pancreatic, inferior mesenteric veins
– Sinusoids
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-8 Hepatic portal system.
What vessel do the hepatic veins drain into?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Systemic Veins
Checkpoints
14-9
What is the difference between superficial and
deep veins?
14-10
What two large veins drain the systemic blood
vessels and empty into the right atrium?
14-11
What is a venous sinus?
14-12
The hepatic portal system takes blood from the
abdominal organs to which organ?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Learning Outcomes
10. Explain the forces that affect
exchange across the capillary
wall.
11. Describe the factors that
regulate blood flow.
12. Define pulse and list factors that
affect pulse rate.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
• Blood exchanges oxygen, carbon dioxide, other
substances generated by cells
• Tissue fluid (interstitial fluid) is exchange medium
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Capillary Exchange
• How substances move between cells and capillary blood
– Diffusion
• Main process
– Blood pressure
• Moves material into tissue fluid
– Osmotic pressure
• Moves material into capillaries
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-9 The role of capillaries.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
The Dynamics of Blood Flow
• Vasomotor center in medulla regulates vasomotor
activities
– Vasodilation
– Vasoconstriction
• Precapillary sphincter
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Return of Blood to the Heart
•Mechanisms that promote blood’s return to heart
– Contraction of skeletal muscles
– Valves
– Breathing
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-10 Blood return.
Which of the two valves shown is closer to the heart?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Checkpoints
14-13
What force helps to push materials out of a
capillary? What force helps to draw materials into
a capillary?
14-14
Name the two types of vasomotor changes.
14-15
Where are vasomotor activities regulated?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
The Pulse
• Ventricular contraction
• Wave of increased pressure
• Begins at heart and travels to arteries
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
The Pulse (continued)
• Influenced by various factors
– Body size
– Gender
– Age
– Muscular activity
– Emotion
– Body temperature
– Thyroid secretion
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Learning Outcomes
13. List the factors that affect blood
pressure.
14. Explain how blood pressure is
commonly measured.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Blood Pressure
• Force exerted by blood against vessel walls
• Determined by
– Cardiac output
– Blood vessel resistance to blood flow
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-11 Blood pressure.
In which vessels does the pulse pressure drop to zero?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Cardiac Output
• Volume of blood pumped out of each ventricle in
one minute
• Heart rate
– Beats per minute
• Stroke volume
– Controlled by force of contractions
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Resistance to Blood Flow
• Peripheral resistance is affected by
– Vasomotor changes
– Baroreceptors in large arteries
– Elasticity of blood vessels
– Viscosity
– Total blood volume
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Blood Pressure Measurement
• Pressure is measured in the brachial arm artery using a
sphygmomanometer.
– Systolic pressure
• Occurs during heart contraction
• Normal systolic: 120 mmHg
– Diastolic pressure
• Occurs during heart relaxation
• Normal diastolic: 80 mmHg
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Figure 14-12 Measurement of blood pressure.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Circulation Physiology
Checkpoints
14-16
What is the definition of pulse?
14-17
What is the definition of blood pressure?
14-18
What is the most significant factor in
determination of peripheral resistance?
14-19
What two components of blood pressure are
measured?
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Case Study
Learning Outcome
15. Referring to the case study, trace
the pathway of an embolus from
the femoral vein to the
pulmonary artery.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Case Study
Pathway of an Embolus From the Femoral Vein to
the Pulmonary Artery
Femoral vein  External iliac vein  Common iliac vein 
Inferior vena cava  Right atrium  Right ventricle 
Pulmonary trunk  Pulmonary arteries
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Word Anatomy
Learning Outcome
16. Show how word parts are used
to build words related to the
blood vessels and circulation.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Word Anatomy
Word Part
Meaning
Example
brachi/o
arm
The brachiocephalic artery supplies
blood to the arm and head on the right
side.
celi/o
abdomen
The celiac trunk branches to supply
blood to the abdominal organs.
enter/o
intestine
The mesenteric arteries supply blood
to the intestines.
phren/o
diaphragm
The phrenic artery supplies blood to
the diaphragm.
bar/o
pressure
A baroreceptor responds to changes in
pressure.
sphygm/o
pulse
A sphygmomanometer is used to
measure blood pressure.
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Taylor: Memmler’s Structure and Function of the Human Body
Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins