Anatomy of the Venous System
Structure of Veins
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Consist of tubular wall surrounding a central channel (lumen)
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Have thinner walls than artery
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Lower pressure and slower rate of flow than arteries
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Carry greater volumes of blood.
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Wall composed of three layers; tunica intima, tunica media (containssmooth muscle) and tunica adventitia.
Valves
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Folds of endothelium lining veins
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Generally consist of pair of cups
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Direct flow back to heart by allowing flow in one direction.
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Often located just distal to the entry of a major tributary and attermination of tributary.
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Most numerous in the long veins
Venous Tributaries
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Smallest vessels – venules (drain directly from capillary bed)
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Venous tributaries correspond to arterial branches.
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Have more variation than arterial system and are more numerous, manytributaries remain unnamed.
Venous Communications
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Numerous routes (or alternate pathways) exist between veins.
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Unless venous occlusion is very extensive or of a major vein, venousocclusion not usually a problem because of this.
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Usually safe to ligate a vein or tributary because of this (unlike arteries)
Venae Comitantes
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A pair of companion veins wrapped around an artery
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Connserve heat by transferring from warm blood headed out in artery.
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Primary located in limbs
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Arrangement aids venous return.
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