Arteries

Coronary arteries

The arteries encircling the base of the heart like a crown. These are the first branches off the aorta.

Blood brain barrier

Inability of most substances to cross the capillaries of nervous tissue due to tight connections between the capillary endothelial cells.

Renal arteries

Originating from the aorta caudal to the cranial mesenteric a. and pass to each kidney.

Right and left subclavian arteries

Supply the neck, thoracic limb, and the cranial portion of the thoracic wall. Each has many branches.

Ventral intercostal arteries

Arise from the internal thoracic artery and course between the ribs, supplying the ventral thoracic wall.

Internal thoracic artery

A branch of the subclavian artery, coursing through the ventral part of the thoracic cavity. It perforates the diaphragm to continue as the cranial epigastric artery on the floor of the abdomen. Collateral branches supple the structures of the ventral thorax.

Common carotid arteries

Arise separately or together from the brachiocephalic trunk. They ascend the neck with the vagosympathetic trunk to terminate in the internal and external carotid arteries supplying the head, face, and brain. The thyroid and laryngeal arteries are the only branches of the common carotid arteries.

Right and left common carotid arteries

Ascend the neck to supply the head, face, and brain.

Aortic arch

The continuation of the ascending aorta, it sends branches to the head, neck, and thoracic limbs.

Thoracic aorta

The division of the descending aorta in the thoracic cavity. It helps supply the thoracic wall via the dorsal intercostal arteries.

Brachiocephalic trunk

The first branch of the aortic arch, present in all the domestic species. It gives rise to the common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery.

Dorsal intercostal arteries

The first few arise as branches of the costocervical trunk, the rest arise directly from the aorta. Their main branch courses on the caudal aspect of the ribs to anastomose artery is similar to the dorsal intercostal arteries, but travels caudal to the last rib, therefore, is not located intercostally.

Celiac artery

The first unpaired branch of the aorta arising between the crura of the diaphragm. It branches into and terminates as the splenic, hepatic and left gastric aa. They supply the cranial part of the abdomen (stomach, liver, spleen, and part of the duodenum).

Aorta

The great artery leaving the left ventricle and arching caudally. It sends oxygenated blood from the left heart to the heart itself and to the rest of the body through its systemic branches. The aorta is divided into the ascending aorts, aortic arch and descending aorta. The descending aorta has thoracic and abdmonial segments.

Ascending aorta

The initial part of the aorta, originating from the left ventricle at the centre of the heart's base.

External iliac arteries

The large terminal branches of the caudal aorta near the caudal mesenteric artery that pass to the pelvic limbs. The large branch of terminal aorta. It gives off the deep femoral artery, then penetrates the abdominal wall through the femoral canal to reach the medial side of the rear limb. Once out of the abdominal cavity it becomes the femoral artery. The caudal abdominal artery usually arises from the external iliac artery after the deep femoral artery and supplies the caudal abdominal wall (carnivores, sheep and cattle).

Descending aorta

The part of the aorta caudal to the aortic arch, divided into the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta by the diaphragm.

Abdominal aorta

The part of the descending aorta caudal to the diaphragm. It courses along the roof of the abdomen the caudal vena cava and the psoas muscles. The aorta terminates in the paired external iliac, the internal iliac and the median sacral at the level of the last lumbar vertebra.

Cranial mesentery artery

The second unpaired branch arises just caudal to the celiac artery. Its branches supply most of the intestines. The largest visceral branch of the abdominal aorta, arising just caudal to the origin of the celiac artery.

Internal iliac arteries

The termination of the aorta passing to supply the viscera of the pelvis and part of the hip and thigh. The terminal branch of the aorta that enters the pelvic cavity. It branches into caudal gluteal and internal pudendal arteries. This division occurs at different levels, thus, giving ride to ether a "long" or "short" internal iliac artery.

Caudal mesenteric artery

The third and last unpaired branch arises from the caudal aorta and passes in the mesocolon to supply the descending colon and rectum. Smallest unpaired major branch of the abdominal aorta. It arises near the termination of the abdominal aorta and supplies the descending colon and rectum through its left colic and cranial rectal arteries respectively.

Median sacral artery

The unpaired terminal branch of the aorta that passes on midline below the sacrum.