The Vascular System

Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation

 Author Note
 Name the branches of the aorta and their
distributions
• Ascending aorta comprises of duo branches, the left and right
ventricle supplying the myocardium with blood.
• The aorta arch consists of triple branches supplying blood to
both the arms and head that include the left subclavian artery,
left common carotid artery, and brachiocephalic artery.
• The thoracic aorta proceeds down via the diaphragm and chest
cavity. The thoracic aorta branches distribute blood to organs
about the organs and chest wall.
• The abdominal aorta provides and ascends to arteries supplying
the common iliac arteries and abdominal organs and walls that
prolong and hooked to the legs.
The major systemic veins and the part of the
body they drain of blood
• Cranial venous sinuses drain blood from the brain.
• The interior jugular vein drains blood from both neck and face.
• The brachiocephalic veins use up blood from the upper body
• The radical vein obtains blood from the hands and forearm.
• Subclavian vein drains blood from the shoulder.
• Axillary veins obtain blood from the armpit.
• The cephalic vein draws blood from superficial forearm and arm.
• Basilic vein obtains blood superficially from upper arm
• The brachial vein draws blood from the upper arm
• The femoral vein draws blood from the thigh, posterior and anterior tibial veins drain blood as of the
foot and lower leg
• Popliteal veins drain blood from the knee
• The inferior vena cava saps blood from the lower body
• Common iliac vein draws from lower abdomen and leg
• Exterior iliac vein draw blood from abdominal wall and leg
• Great saphenous vein draws blood as of the thigh, leg and superficial foot
• Small saphenous vein drawing blood from the foot and superficial leg.
Explain the importance of slow blood flow in capillaries

• The presence of slow rate of capillary blood flow allows ample time
for exchanges of wastes, gases and nutrients occurring between
tissue fluids and blood. For instance, slowing down of a train whilst
not stopping at designated stations to permit passengers to embark
and disembark. The train regaining its speed to reach the next train
station.
• The existence of swift blood flow in different vessels results to
shortening of circulation time. The limited time availed facilitates
blood going to the lungs from the right ventricle, reversing towards
the heart and pumped with the left ventricle and returning again in
the direction of the heart. Therefore, the period for circulation is
about one minute and guarantees ample gaseous exchange.
 Explain the factors that maintain systemic
blood pressure
• Venous return refers to the quantity of blood returning towards the heart through the veins.
The factor of venous return is significant as the heart specifically pumps the received blood. The
reduction of venous return implies that cardiac muscle filaments remain unstretched, decrease
in the ventricular systole force, and decline in blood pressure.
• Peripheral resistance means the resistance provided by vessels to blood flow. The veins and
arteries are normally a little constricted aiding in the maintenance of standard diastolic blood
pressure. For instance, in scenarios where an individual’s body possesses blood containing five
liters, the vessel should be smaller in enabling blood to apply pressure against the vessel walls.
• Blood viscosity is where the standard viscosity of blood becomes dependent on the existence of
red blood cells as well as plasma proteins majorly albumin. The presence of numerous red
blood cells in a body is rare, however, its occurrence is in the polycythemia vera disorder plus in
heavy smokers that increase blood pressure and viscosity.
• Force and heart rate is another factor in systemic blood pressure. The presence of an increase
in heart force and rate results in augmentation of blood pressure which normally occurs during
exercise. On the other hand, if there is rapid and extreme biting of the heart, there might not
be a total fill of ventricles between beats resulting in a decrease of blood pressure and cardiac
output.
 How the heart and kidneys are involved in
the regulation of blood pressure
• The heart is involved in blood pressure regulation through the venous
return. The increase in venous return leads to a stretch of the cardiac
muscle filaments and ventricles pumping more forcefully. Hence, an
increase in blood pressure and cardiac output, for instance, during exercise
when there is a need for elevated blood pressure.
• Kidneys regulate blood pressure through an individual’s diet. The presence
of a more plant diet in daily meals signifies higher potassium and low
sodium which is contrary to animal diets.
• The human kidney is involved in the rennin-angiotension mechanism. The
decrease in blood pressure results in the secretion of the rennin enzyme
that begins numerous reactions leading to angiotension II formation.
Angiotension II results in vasoconstriction and kindles aldosterone
secretion through the adrenal cortex where both lead to an increase in
blood pressure.
 Reference
• Scanlon, C. V., & Sanders, T." Essentials of
Anatomy and Physiology." 7th edition, 2015.
Accessed from doi:
10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.11.010.
• Scanlon, C. V., & Sanders, T." Essentials of
Anatomy and Physiology." 5th edition, 2007.
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