Never ending circuit
Blood travels round the body via blood vessels. Arteries, shown in red, carry blood from the heart, branching into smaller and smaller vessels to deliver oxygen-filled blood to the body’s cells. Veins, deliver blood back to the heart. This process is called circulation because the same blood flows around and around.
External jugular vein
The external jugular vein is a vein of the neck that arises from the union of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein and the posterior auricular vein. Blood is carried away from the face and scalp by the vein.
Common carotid artery
This large vessel supplies blood to the head and neck. There is one common carotid artery on either side of the body and these arteries differ in their origin. The left common carotid artery arises from the aortic arch within the superior mediastinum, whilst the right common carotid artery arises from the brachiocephalic trunk posterior to the right sternoclavicular joint.
Subclavian artery
This is the main vessel supplying blood to the arm and hand. Depending on the side of the body, it can have two origins: the aortic arch on the left and the brachiocephalic trunk on the right.
Subclavian vein
The subclavian vein is the major vein of the arm, shoulder and neck. Its name means ‘under the clavicle’, due to the course it takes when entering the thorax. Blood is drained from the arm and hand by the vein.
Aorta
As thick as an adult’s thum, this is the body’s largest artery. The aorta begins at the top of the left ventricle, the heart’s muscular pumping chamber. The heart pumps blood from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aortic valve. Three leaflets on the aortic valve open and close with each heartbeat to allow one-way flow of blood.
Axillary artery
Oxygen-rich blood reaches the upper arm via this artery. It is responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood to the upper limb, as well as to parts of the musculocutaneous system of the scapula and upper lateral thorax.
Heart
The heart and circulatory system make up your cardiovascular system. Your heart works as a pump that pushes blood to the organs, tissues, and cells of your body. This muscular pump pushes blood around the body.
Brachial vein
The venous drainage of the upper limb is not only important for the anatomists but also for clinicians. This is so because the procedure of venepuncture requires good knowledge of vascular anatomy in order to promote safety. This blood vessel drains oxygen-poor blood from the arm.
Descending aorta
This large artery runs down through the chest to the abdomen. The descending aorta starts after the arch of the aorta and ends by splitting into two great arteries (the common iliac arteries) that go to the legs.
Superior mesenteric vein
This vein drains blood from the small intestine. It arises within the mesentery of the small intestine from the small tributaries that drain blood from the terminal ileum, caecum and vermiform appendix. It terminates by uniting with the splenic vein and forming the portal vein.
Inferior vena cava
The inferior vena cava (IVC) is the largest vein of the human body. It is located at the posterior abdominal wall on the right side of the aorta. Blood from the lower body is carried back to the heart by this vein.
Radial artery
The radial artery is a continuation of the brachial artery and is one of the major blood supplying vessels to the structures of the forearm. The brachial artery terminates at the cubital fossa where it bifurcates into the ulnar artery and a smaller radial artery. The pulse can be taken where this artery passes through the wrist.
Basilic vein
The upper limb is highly mobile and well evolved. The vascular supply and venous drainage all facilitate the correct functioning of our upper limbs, and reflect the final picture of our embryological development. The basilic vein helps drain blood from the hand and forearm.
External iliac vein
The external iliac vein arises from the femoral vein as its proximal continuation. It runs from the posterior aspect of the inguinal ligament and terminates around the sacroiliac joint. This is the main vein carrying blood back from the thigh, leg and foot.
External iliac artery
The external iliac artery is the larger terminal branch of the common iliac artery. Both the left and right common iliac arteries bifurcate into the external and internal iliac arteries at the level of the sacroiliac joints on either side. This is the main artery supplying the thigh, leg, and foot.
Femoral vein
The femoral vein is a large vessel located deep within the thigh. It is sometimes referred to as the superficial femoral vein in order to distinguish it from the deep femoral vein. The femoral vein drains oxygen-poor blood from the thigh.
Deep femoral artery
The thigh muscles are supplied by this artery. It originates approximately 3 cm below to the inguinal ligament and courses inferiorly along the medial aspect of the femur.
Femoral artery
The femoral artery is a continuation of the external iliac artery and constitutes the major blood supply to the lower limb. This artery carries blood to the thigh.
Great saphenous vein
The longest vein in the body, this runs from the foot to the upper thigh. The greater saphenous vein starts from the medial marginal vein of foot, runs superficially along the length of the lower limb, to finally empty into the femoral vein.
Popliteal artery
The popliteal artery is one of the major arteries of the leg. It is a continuation of the femoral artery, travels across the popliteal fossa, and finally bifurcates into the anterior and posterior tibial ends. Oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the knee by this artery.
Popliteal vein
The popliteal vein is a deep vein of the leg. It drains blood away from the leg into the femoral vein, which drains blood to the inferior vena cava to return to the right atrium of the heart. This vein carries blood from the calf and thigh muscles, and the knee, back to the heart.
Anterior tibial artery
The anterior tibial artery is one of the terminal branches of the popliteal artery. It arises below the popliteal fossa, in the posterior (flexor) compartment of the leg. The muscles in front of the lower leg bones are supplied by this artery.
Small saphenous vein
The small (short or lesser) saphenous vein is a superficial vein of the leg. This vein drains oxygen-poor blood from the back of the leg into the popliteal vein.
Posterior tibial artery
The posterior tibial artery is a branch of the tibioperoneal (or tibiofibular) trunk that supplies the posterior compartment of the leg and the sole of the foot. This artery supplies blood to the calf and the foot.
Anterior tibial vein
The anterior tibial veins are paired veins located in the anterior compartment of the leg. These veins accompany the anterior tibial artery, coursing over the anterior interosseous membrane of the leg. Blood from tissues in the shin is carried away by this vein.
Posterior tibial vein
Blood is carried away from the foot and lower leg by this vessel. They are the venae comitantes of the posterior tibial artery and are closely related to it during their entire course.
Artery of dorsum of foot
This carried blood to the upper surface of the foot. It is located on the dorsum of the foot, just deep to the inferior extensor retinaculum and lies between the extensor hallucis longus tendon and the medial tendon of the extensor digitorum longus muscle. It is a major artery that supplies the forefoot.
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