Chapter 5 Blood Vessels

Pulmonary Artery

Artery that carries blood away from the heart to the lungs. The pulmonary artery is the only artery that carries blood that has a low level of oxygen

Axillary Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the axilla (armpit) area

Popliteal Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the back of the knee and then branches into the tibial and peroneal arteries

Tibial Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the front and back of the lower leg

Iliac Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the hip and groin area

Ulnar Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the little finger side of the lower arm (along the ulna bone)

Peroneal Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the little toe side of the lower leg (along the fibula bone)

Coronary Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the myocardium (heart muscle)

Carotid Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the neck, face, head, and brain. If these arteries are compressed, the lack of blood to the brain will cause a person to become unconscious

Subclavian Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the shoulder. It goes underneath (sub-) the clavicle (collar bone)

Radial Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the thumb side of the lower arm (along the radius bone)

Brachial Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the upper arm

Femoral Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated blood to the upper leg

Renal Artery

Artery that carries oxygenated to the kidney

Vein

Blood vessel that carries blood from the body back to the heart. This blood has a low level of oxygen and a high level of carbon dioxide and waste products of cellular metabolism from the cells. The exception is the pulmonary veins that carry blood that has a high level of oxygen from the lungs back to the heart

Artery

Blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body. This bright red blood has a high level of oxygen. (The exception is the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. They carry dark red-purple blood with a low level of oxygen)

Great Vessels

Collective phrase for the aorta (the largest artery), the superior and inferior venae cavae (the largest veins), and the pulmonary trunk, pulmonary arteries, and pulmonary veins

Vasoconstruction

Constriction of smooth muscle in the wall of a blood vessel that causes it to become smaller in diameter

Blood Vessels

Large and small channels through which the blood circulates throughout the body. These include arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and vein that are also known as vascular structures. The lumen is the central opening inside a blood vessel through which the blood flows

Aorta

Largest artery. It carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the body. It includes the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, the thoracic aorta, and the abdominal aorta

Venae Cavae

Largest veins. The superior vena cava carries blood from the heard, neck, arms, and chest back to the right atrium of the heart. The inferior vena cava carries blood from the abdomen, pelvis, and legs back to the right atrium

Endothelium

Layer of cells that lines the wall of a blood vessel. It is also known as the intima

Vasculature

Network of blood vessels in a particular organ

Vasodilation

Relaxation of smooth muscle in the wall of a blood vessel that causes it to become larger in diameter

Capillary

Smallest blood vessel in the body. A capillary network connects the arterioles to the venules. The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in the capillaries

Venule

Smallest branch of a vein

Arteriole

Smallest branch of an artery

Pulse

The bulging of the wall of an artery located near the surface as blood is pumped by the heart

Jugular Vein

Vein that carries blood from the head to the superior vena cava

Portal Vein

Vein that carries blood from the intestines to the liver

Saphenous Vein

Vein that carries blood from the leg to the groin

Pulmonary Vein

Vein that carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. The pulmonary vein is the only vein that carries blood that has a high level of oxygen