Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

even during sleep, and must have a constant flow of
blood to supply oxygen and remove waste products.
For this reason there are four vessels that bring blood
to the circle of Willis. From this anastomosis, several
paired arteries (the cerebral arteries) extend into the
brain itself.
The thoracic aorta and its branches supply the
chest wall and the organs within the thoracic cavity.
These vessels are listed in Table 13–1.
The abdominal aorta gives rise to arteries that sup-

ply the abdominal wall and organs and to the common

iliac arteries, which continue into the legs. Notice in

Fig. 13–3 that the common iliac artery becomes the

external iliac artery, which becomes the femoral artery,

which becomes the popliteal artery; the same vessel

has different names based on location. These vessels

are also listed in Table 13–1 (see Box 13–3: Pulse

Sites).

The systemic veins drain blood from organs or

parts of the body and often parallel their correspond-

The Vascular System 299

Figure 13–5. Arteries and veins of the head and neck shown in right lateral view. Veins

are labeled on the left. Arteries are labeled on the right.

QUESTION:Which vein is the counterpart of the common carotid artery?