Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology

340 Chapter 1 4

Common Disease, Disorder, or Condition

Disorders of the Cardiovascular System continued

time, cellular death will occur. Since aspirin inhibits platelet activation, people who are at

risk for heart attacks take daily reduced doses of aspirin to reduce the likeli-hood of

plaque formation in the coronary arteries.

Angioplasty and Stents^
An angioplasty is the reconstruction of a diseased coronary artery by inserting a small
balloon through the aorta and into a coronary artery. Once the balloon is positioned in
the blocked artery, it is inflated, thus flattening the plaque mass and dilating or
stretching the artery. This allows more blood to flow through the artery. After an
angioplasty, the dilation of the blood vessel can be reversed and again become
blocked. Therefore, in some cases, a metal-mesh tube called a stent, which is stronger
and permanent, is inserted into the vessel to prevent any future blockage.

Veins Merging into the Superior Vena Cava

The radial and ulnar veins, which drain the forearm, unite
to form the brachial vein, which drains the arm and empties
into the axillary vein in the armpit area.
The cephalic vein drains the lateral part of the arm and
connects into the axillary vein.
The basilic vein drains the medial part of the arm and
joins the brachial vein. The basilic and brachial veins are
joined near the elbow by the median cubital vein. It is this
vein that is usually used for drawing blood.
The subclavian vein drains blood from the arm via the
axillary vein and drains blood from the muscles and skin of
the head region via the external jugular vein.

The vertebral vein^ drains the back of the head.^
The internal jugular vein also drains the dural sinus of
the brain in the head.
The right and left brachiocephalic veins are large veins
that receive blood from the subclavian, vertebral, and
internal jugular veins. It then joins the superior vena cava.

The azygos vein drains the thorax and also merges with
the superior vena cava just before it enters the heart.

Veins Merging into the Inferior Vena Cava

The anterior and posterior tibial veins and the peroneal
vein drain the calf and the foot. The posterior tibial vein

is called the popliteal vein at the knee and the femoral vein

in the thigh. The femoral vein is called the external-

iliac vein as it goes into the pelvis.

The great saphenous veins are the longest veins of the

body. They drain the superficial aspects of the leg and

begin as the dorsal venous arch in the foot and eventually

merge with the femoral vein in the thigh.

The right and left common iliac veins are formed by

the union of the external and internal iliac veins. These

drain the pelvis. The common iliac veins unite to form the

inferior vena cava in the abdominal cavity.

The right and left gonadal veins drain the gonads and

eventually join the left renal vein.

The right^ and left renal veins^ drain the kidneys.^

The hepatic portal vein drains the organs of the

digestive- tract and goes to the liver.

The right and left hepatic veins drain the liver.

Media Link

Watch an animation on

congestive heart failure (CHF) on

the Student Companion Website.