Download The Aorta and Its Major Branches

The Aorta and Its Major Branches
The aorta is the biggest artery in the body, with a diameter of
approximately 3 cm (1 in.). All systemic arteries branch off the aorta.
The aorta has four major segments: ascending aorta, arch of the
aorta (or aortic arch), thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta.
Arteries that branch off each section of the aorta divide into smaller
arteries that supply different organs. These arteries then divide into
arterioles within the organs, and finally into capillaries that supply all
systemic tissues accept the alveoli of the lungs.
The Ascending Aorta
The ascending aorta, which is approximately 5 cm (2 in.) long, is the
first section of the aorta. It begins at the aortic valve, at the upper part of
the base of the left ventricle. It has three dilations called aortic sinuses.
The right and left coronary arteries originate from the right and left
aortic sinuses. The posterior interventricular branch of the right
coronary artery supplies the right and left ventricles. The right ventricle
also receives blood from the second branch of the right coronary artery,
the marginal branch. The left coronary artery has two branches:
the anterior interventricular branch (left anterior descending
branch), which supplies both ventricles, and the circumflex branch,
which supplies the left ventricle and left atrium.
The Arch of the Aorta
The ascending aorta curves to the left and becomes the arch of the aorta,
which is about 4–5 cm (2 in.) long. It runs downward and ends in front
of the border between the fourth and fifth thoracic vertebrae. The arch
of the aorta gives rise to three major branches: the brachiocephalic
trunk, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery.
Branches of the Arch of the Aorta
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Brachiocephalic
trunk
Right upper limb,
head, neck
Brachiocephalic
trunk (brachiocephalic
artery) is the largest branch of the aortic arch;
Gives
rise
to
the right
subclavian
arteryand right common carotid artery
Right subclavian Right upper limb,
artery
brain, spinal cord,
neck,
shoulder,
thoracic
viscera
and wall, scapular
muscles
Runs from the brachiocephalic trunk and to the
first rib before passing into the armpit (axilla)
Internal thoracic Anterior thoracic
artery
wall, mediastinum
structures
The internal thoracic artery branches from the
first part of the subclavian artery; Ends at the
sixth intercostal space; Used to create the
bypass for single coronary artery bypass
grafting
Vertebral artery
The right vertebral artery branches off from the
right subclavian artery and passes through the
foramen magnum to reach the inferior surface
of the brain; Joins with the left vertebral artery
to form the basilar artery, branches of which
Posterior part of
brain
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
supply the cerebellum and pons of the brain,
and the inner ear
Axillary artery
Shoulder, thoracic
and
scapular
muscles, humerus
The axillary artery is the part of the subclavian
artery that passes into the armpit; The same
vessel has different names as it passes through
different areas of the body
Brachial artery
Upper limb
The axillary artery becomes the brachial
artery in the arm, where it is easy measure BP;
To control bleeding, the brachial artery should
be compressed near the middle of the arm
Radial artery
Radial
(lateral)
aspect of forearm,
wrist, hand
The radial artery is a direct continuation of the
brachial artery very near the skin surface at the
wrist, where the radial pulse is typically
measured
Ulnar artery
Ulnar
(medial)
aspect of forearm,
wrist, hand
The ulnar artery is the larger of the two
brachial artery branches; Reconnects with the
smaller branch (the radial artery), in the palm,
creating the superficial palmar arch and
the deep palmar arch
Superficial
palmar arch
Branches supply
palm and fingers
Lies over the flexor tendons of the fingers and
extends to the palm; Gives rise to the common
palmar digital arteries that perfuse the palm,
each of which divides into a pair of proper
palmar digital arteries that perfuse the fingers
palmar Branches supply
the
palm
and
fingers
Lies below the flexor tendons of the fingers and
extends to the palm; Gives rise to palmar
metacarpal arteries that perfuse the palm and
join with the common palmar digital arteries
Deep
arch
Right common Head and
carotid artery
(right side)
neck
External carotid Face, scalp, neck
artery
Begins where the brachiocephalic trunk divides
into its two branches; Divides into the right
external and right internal carotid arteries;
Often used to measure the pulse (at the side of
the neck), for example, when exercising or
administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Near the temporomandibular joint, the external
carotid artery divides into the superficial
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
temporal and maxillary arteries; Used to detect
the carotid pulse
Internal
artery
carotid Orbital structures
(including
the
eyeball),
ear,
cerebrum, pituitary
gland,
external
nose
Left
common Head and
carotid artery
(left side)
neck
Left subclavian Left upper limb
artery
Branches of the internal carotid artery:
the anterior cerebral arteries supply parts of
the frontal and parietal lobes; Branches merge
with branches of the basilar artery—
the posterior cerebral arteries(that supply the
occipital lobes)—to form the cerebral arterial
circle(circle of Willis) at the base of the
brain; Posterior
communicating
arteries connect the posterior cerebral arteries
with the internal carotid arteries; Anterior
communicating arteriesconnect the anterior
cerebral arteries; Cerebral arterial circle (which
also includes the internal carotid arteries)
equalizes BP in the brain and keeps blood
flowing to the brain if other arteries are
damaged
The left common carotid artery branches from
the arch of the aorta and divides into branches
with the same names as branches of the right
common carotid artery
The left subclavian artery branches from the
arch of the aorta; Its branches and their names
are similar to those of the right subclavian
artery
The Thoracic Aorta
As the aorta continues its descent, it passes through the aortic hiatus, an
opening in the diaphragm. The part of the aorta between the arch of the
aorta and the diaphragm is called the thoracic aorta. It is approximately
20 cm (8 in.) long and starts at the border between the fourth and fifth
thoracic vertebrae. The thoracic aorta gives rise to a number of small
arteries. The visceral branches supply the viscera, and the parietal
branches supply the body wall structures of the thorax.
Branches of the Thoracic Aorta: Visceral
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Pericardial
arteries
Pericardium
Two or three of these tiny pericardial
arteries perfuse the pericardium
Bronchial
arteries
Pleurae,
bronchial
tubes, bronchial lymph
nodes, esophagus
Right bronchial artery branches from the
third posterior intercostal artery; Two
left bronchial arteries branch from the
thoracic aorta
Esophageal
arteries
Esophagus
Four or five esophageal arteries perfuse the
esophagus
Mediastinal
arteries
Mediastinum structures
Numerous small mediastinal arteries
Branches of the Thoracic Aorta: Parietal
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Posterior
intercostal
arteries
Intercostal, pectoralis major and minor, Nine pairs of
and serratus anterior muscles; overlying intercostal arteries
subcutaneous tissue and skin; mammary
glands; vertebrae, meninges, spinal cord
Subcostal
arteries
Same as the posterior intercostal arteries
Superior
phrenic
arteries
Superior and
diaphragm
posterior
aspects
posterior
The subcostal arteries derive
their name from their
location below the rib cage
(costal, rib area)
of The small superior phrenic
arteries arise from the lower
part of the thoracic aorta
The Abdominal Aorta
The abdominal aorta is the part of the aorta between the diaphragm and
its bifurcation (division into two branches) into the two common iliac
arteries at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra. The abdominal aorta
is about 13 cm (5.1 in.) long. Like the thoracic aorta, the abdominal aorta
gives off visceral and parietal branches.
Branches
Branches
of
the
Abdominal
Aorta:
Unpaired
Visceral
Branch
Area Supplied
Celiac
trunk
Description
After emerging from the abdominal aorta, the celiac
trunk divides into the left gastric artery, splenic artery,
and common hepatic artery
Left gastric
artery
Stomach,
esophagus
Smallest of the three branches of the celiac trunk
Splenic
artery
Branches supply
pancreas,
stomach, greater
omentum
Largest branch of the celiac trunk; Three
branches: pancreatic artery(supplies the pancreas), left
gastroepiploic
artery (stomach
and
greater
omentum), short gastric artery (stomach)
Common
hepatic
artery
Branches supply
liver,
gall
bladder,
stomach,
duodenum,
pancreas,
greater
omentum
Intermediate-sized branch of the celiac trunk; Three
branches: proper hepatic artery (supplies the liver,
stomach,
and
gall
bladder), right
gastric
artery (stomach), gastroduodenal
artery (stomach,
greater omentum, duodenum, and pancreas)
Superior
Branches supply
The superior mesenteric artery runs between the layers
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
mesenteric
artery
duodenum,
pancreas, parts
of small and
large intestines
of
mesentery;
Five
branches: inferior
pancreaticoduodenal artery (supplies the duodenum
and pancreas), jejunal artery (jejunum of small
intestine),ileal
artery (ileum
of
small
intestine), ileocolic artery (ascending colon of large
intestine), middle colic artery (transverse colon of large
intestine)
Inferior
mesenteric
artery
Branches supply The inferior mesenteric artery has three branches: left
parts of large colic artery(supplies transverse and descending colons
intestine
of large intestine), sigmoid arteries (sigmoid and
descending colons of large intestine), superior rectal
artery (rectum)
Branches of the Abdominal Aorta: Paired Visceral Branches
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Suprarenal
arteries
Adrenal glands
Only
the
middle
pair
of suprarenal
arteries arises from the abdominal aorta;
Superior pair arises from the inferior phrenic
artery; Inferior pair arises from the renal arteries
Renal
arteries
Kidneys,
adrenal
glands, ureters
Right renal artery is longer than the left
Gonadal
arteries
Ureters,
ovaries,
fallopian
tubes
(females);
testes,
epididymis (males)
In males, the gonadal arteries are called
the testicular arteries; In females, they are
called the ovarian arteries(which are much
shorter than the testicular arteries)
Branches of the Abdominal Aorta: Unpaired Parietal Branch
Branch
Median
sacral
artery
Area
Supplied
Sacrum,
coccyx
Description
The median sacral artery originates in the posterior part of
the abdominal aorta, about 1cm above the bifurcation into
the right and left common iliac arteries
Branches of the Abdominal Aorta: Paired Parietal Branches
Branch
Area Supplied
Description
Inferior
phrenic
arteries
Diaphragm
(inferior
aspect), adrenal glands
The inferior phrenic arteries are the first
paired branches of the abdominal aorta; Arise
from just above the origin of the celiac trunk
and, occasionally, from the renal arteries
Lumbar
arteries
Lumbar vertebrae, spinal
cord and it meninges, back
muscles and skin in the
lumbar region
Four pairs of lumbar arteries