Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology

The Cardiovascular Circulatory System

artery, which transports blood to the right side of the head
and neck, and the right subclavian artery, which transports
blood to the upper right limb.
The second branch of the aortic arch is the left common
carotid artery, which divides into the left internal carotid
artery that supplies the brain and the left external carotid
artery that supplies muscles and skin of the neck and head.
The third branch of the aortic arch is the left subcla-
vian artery, which branches into the vertebral artery that
supplies part of the brain. In the axillary area of the body,
the subclavian artery is now known as the axillary artery,
which continues down the arm as the brachial artery. Near
the elbow joint, it divides into the radial and ulnar arteries,
which supply the forearm.

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-ventricular -fibrillation on the

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Thoracic Aorta Branches

There are 10 pairs of intercostal arteries that supply

muscles of the thorax. Bronchial arteries supply the two

lungs, esophageal arteries go to the esophagus, and phrenic

arteries supply the diaphragm muscle.

Abdominal Aorta Branches

The first branch is the celiac trunk, which has three

branches: the left gastric artery, which goes to the stomach;

the splenic artery, which supplies the spleen; and the

common hepatic artery, which goes to the liver.

The superior mesenteric artery supplies the small in-

testine and the col on.

The right and left renal arteries go to the kidneys. The

right^ and left gonadal^ (ovarian in female and^

testicular in males) arteries serve the gonads.

The lumbar arteries are several pairs that go to the

muscles of the abdomen and walls of the trunk of the body.

The inferior mesenteric artery is quite small and serves

The Large Intestine.

Health Alert

Bypass surgery

Bypass surgery or a coronary bypass is performed on those individuals who have obstructions in

the coronary arteries that supply the heart. These obstructions can be caused by a buildup of

deposits of cholesterol called plaque. Segments of healthy blood vessels from other parts of the

patient’s body are transplanted to the heart to bypass the obstructions located in vari-ous parts of

the coronary arteries.

Health Alert

Congestive heart failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is caused by an improperly pumping heart. As a result, blood

tends to accumulate in the ventricles at the end of each cardiac cycle. This buildup of blood

results in an increase in blood volume in the chambers, causing chamber dilation and an in-

crease in intracardiac pressure over time. Usually one ventricle fails before the other. When the

right ventricle fails first, blood backs up in vessels leading to the heart, causing periph-eral edema

and symptoms such as swelling of the feet and ankles. When the left ventricle fails first, blood will

back up and accumulate in the lungs, causing pulmonary edema. This can lead to suffocation and

death. Some common causes of CHF are myocardial infarction (heart attack), disorders of the

valves of the heart, high blood pressure over a long period of time, and cardiomyopathy.