Major Blood Vessels and Pathways

hepatic portal vein

carries blood rich in nutrients from the intestines to the liver for processing before returning to the heart

inferior vena cava

large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and lower body and returns it to the right atrium of the heart

coronary vein

return deoxygenated blood from the heart muscle to the right atrium

renal veins

return deoxygenated blood from the kidneys to the posterior vena cava

iliac veins

return deoxygenated blood from the legs to the posterior vena cava

jugular veins

take deoxygenated blood from the head back to the anterior vena cava

carotid arteries

take oxygenated blood to head

renal arteries

take oxygenated blood to kidneys

mesenteric arteries

take oxygenated blood to the intestines

iliac arteries

take oxygenated blood to the legs

coronary arteries

branch off the aorta and take oxygenated blood to the heart muscle

pulmonary vein

carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart

superior vena cava

large vein that collects deoxygenated blood from the head and arms and returns it to the right atrium of the heart

aorta

largest artery in the body; receives oxygenated blood, at pressure, directly from the left ventricle and transports it to the body

subclavian veins

lie beneath the clavicles; take deoxygenated blood from the arms back to the anterior vena cava

subclavian arteries

lie beneath the clavicles; take oxygenated blood to the arms

pulmonary artery

receives deoxygenated blood, at pressure, from the right ventricle and takes it to the lungs

hepatic vein

returns deoxygenated blood from the liver to the posterior vena cava