AnatomyLesson 5 of 6 in the course The Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels and Circulation

Major Arterial and Venous Circulatory Pathways

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Circulatory pathways are routes that move blood between the heart, lungs, and body tissues. Understanding the direction and purpose of each route helps make the many vessel names easier to learn.

The circulatory system transports gases, nutrients, wastes, hormones, immune cells, and antibodies. It also supports capillary exchange, hemostasis (the prevention of blood loss), temperature regulation, and acid-base balance. Vessel pathways are often paired on the right and left, and arteries and veins in a region may share names and run near one another. Some vessels, such as the aorta, are singular; some superficial veins have no matching artery.

All flashcards

Pulmonary circuit
The route from the right ventricle to the lungs and back to the left atrium.
Anastomosis
A connection between blood vessels that can provide an alternate route for blood flow.
Vascular trunk
A large vessel that gives rise to several branches.
Hepatic portal system
A route carrying blood from digestive-organ capillaries through the liver before it returns to general circulation.
Arterial circle (circle of Willis)
An arterial connection at the base of the brain that can provide alternate routes for blood flow.

Quiz questions

  1. Which vessel leaves the right ventricle and then divides into the right and left pulmonary arteries?Answer: The pulmonary trunk.
  2. Which set lists the three major branches of the aortic arch?Answer: Brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries.
  3. Thoracic aortic branches that supply the body wall are classified as which type?Answer: Parietal branches.
  4. Which two arteries arise when the brachial artery divides near the elbow?Answer: The radial and ulnar arteries.
  5. Which vessel carries blood from digestive-organ capillaries toward the liver in the hepatic portal system?Answer: The hepatic portal vein.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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