artery

Examples of artery in the following topics:

• Muscular Arteries

  • Distributing arteries are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from an elastic artery and branch into resistance vessels.
  • Muscular or distributing arteries are medium-sized arteries that draw blood from an elastic artery and branch into resistance vessels, including small arteries and arterioles.
  • The splenic artery (lienal artery), the blood vessel that supplies oxygenated blood to the spleen, is an example of a muscular artery.
  • It branches from the celiac artery and follows a course superior to the pancreas.
  • Transverse section of the human spleen showing the distribution of the splenic artery and its branches

• Arteries of the Pelvis and Lower Limbs

  • The abdominal aorta divides into the major arteries of the leg: the femoral, popliteal, tibial, dorsal foot, plantar, and fibular arteries.
  • Formed when the common iliac artery divides the internal iliac artery at the vertebral level L5 descends inferiorly into the lesser pelvis.
  • The external iliac artery passes into the thigh becoming the femoral artery.
  • Key branches include the obturator artery, the inferior vesical artery in men and the equivalent vaginal artery in females and the rectal and gluteal arteries.
  • The posterior trunk gives rise to arteries that supply the posterior pelvic wall and the gluteal region including the iliolumbar artery which supplies the psoas major muscle, the lateral sacral arteries and the superior gluteal artery.

• Artery Function

  • Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart under pressure.
  • As with veins, arteries are comprised of three layers: the tunicae intima, media, and externa.
  • This pressure variation within the artery produces the observable pulse that reflects heart activity.
  • Larger arteries are typically elastic and smaller arteries are more likely to be muscular.
  • Distinguish the function of the arterial system from that of venous system

• Elastic Arteries

  • Elastic arteries contain larger numbers of collagen and elastin filaments in their tunica media than muscular arteries do, giving them the ability to stretch in response to each pulse.
  • Elastic arteries include the largest arteries in the body, those closest to the heart, and give rise to the smaller muscular arteries.
  • The pulmonary arteries, the aorta, and its branches together comprise the body's system of elastic arteries.
  • In elastic arteries, the tunica media is rich with elastic and connective tissue.
  • The aorta makes up most of the elastic arteries in the body.

• Anastomoses

  • Circulatory anastomoses are named based on the vessels they join: two arteries (arterio-arterial anastomosis), two veins (veno-venous anastomosis), or between an artery and a vein (arterio-venous anastomosis).
  • Anastomoses between arteries and anastomoses between veins result in a multitude of arteries and veins serving the same volume of tissue.
  • Coronary artery anastomoses.
  • If one coronary artery is obstructed by an atheroma, a degradation of the arterial walls, the second artery is still able to supply oxygenated blood to the myocardium.
  • Blood flows up to the brain through the vertebral arteries and through the internal carotid arteries.

• The Aorta and Its Branches

  • The aorta is the largest artery in the systemic circulatory system.
  • The aorta is an elastic artery, meaning it is able to distend.
  • The ascending aorta has two small branches—the left and right coronary arteries.
  • The arch of the aorta has 3 branches: the brachiocephalic artery, which itself divides into right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery.
  • These arteries provide blood to both arms and the head.

• Development of the Cardiovascular System

  • On the obliteration of the stapedial artery, this anastomosis enlarges and forms the internal maxillary artery; the branches of the stapedial artery are now branches of this vessel.
  • Approximately 30 posterolateral branches arise off the aorta and will form the intercostal arteries, upper and lower extremity arteries, lumbar arteries, and the lateral sacral arteries.
  • Finally, the ventral branches of the aorta consist of the vitelline arteries and umbilical arteries.
  • The vitelline arteries form the celiac, and superior and inferior mesenteric arteries of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • After birth, the umbilical arteries will form the internal iliac arteries.

• Development of the Heart

  • The human arterial and venous systems develop from different embryonic areas.
  • Approximately 30 posterolateral branches arise off the aorta and will form the intercostal arteries, upper and lower extremity arteries, lumbar arteries, and the lateral sacral arteries.
  • Finally, the ventral branches of the aorta consist of the vitelline arteries and umbilical arteries.
  • The vitelline arteries form the celiac, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • After birth, the umbilical arteries will form the internal iliac arteries.

• Supply of Blood and Nerves to the Kidneys

  • The renal veins drain the kidney and the renal arteries supply blood to the kidney.
  • The arterial supply of the kidneys is variable from person to person, and there may be one or more renal arteries supplying each kidney.
  • Due to the position of the aorta, the inferior vena cava, and the kidneys in the body, the right renal artery is normally longer than the left renal artery.
  • The renal arteries split into several segmental arteries upon entering the kidneys, which then split into several arterioles.
  • The kidneys receive blood from the renal arteries which branch into segmental arteries and into interlobar arteries that penetrate the renal capsule and extend through the renal columns between the renal pyramids, left and right, which branch directly from the abdominal aorta.

• Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries

  • Arteries take blood away from the heart.
  • The main artery is the aorta that branches into other major arteries, which take blood to different limbs and organs.
  • These major arteries include the carotid artery, which takes blood to the brain; the brachial arteries, which take blood to the arms; and the thoracic artery, which takes blood to the thorax and then into the hepatic, renal, and gastric arteries for the liver, kidneys, and stomach, respectively.
  • The iliac artery takes blood to the lower limbs.
  • The major arteries diverge into minor arteries, and then into smaller vessels called arterioles, to reach more deeply into the muscles and organs of the body.