Systemic Circulation Notes

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: SYSTEMIC CIRULATION REPORT
Introduction: (After video)
- The circulatory system consists of three independent systems that work together:
arteries, veins, coronary and portal vessels, and the heart (cardiovascular), lungs
(pulmonary), and arteries, veins, coronary and portal vessels (systemic). The
system is in charge of transporting blood, nutrients, oxygen, and other gases to
and from cells, as well as hormones. With this, the systemic circulation is stated
to be the system of blood vessels which carries the blood from the left ventricle of
the heart up to the tissues of the body and back to the right atrium. This sends
oxygenated blood out to the cells and returns deoxygenated blood to the heart.
1.1 Blood Vessels of the systemic circulation: Arteries
Aorta (All systemic arteries are branches, either directly or indirectly, from the
aorta)
- Leaves the left ventricle to form the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the
descending aorta, which consists of the thoracic aorta and the abdominal aorta.
Arteries of the head and neck
- Two routes are being applied to supply the arterial blood to the head. The branches
from both routes connect to the cerebral arterial circle, in which, is a ring of blood
vessels on the inferior surface of the brain.
- The right or left common carotid artery branches from the aortic arch to supply the
head and the upper limbs.
- The common carotid arteries divide to form the external carotids (scalp, face,
tongue, ear, throat, thyroid) and internal carotid (brain, eyes, forehead, nose) which
supply the brain.
Arteries of the Upper Limbs
- The subclavian artery (under the clavicle) continues as the axillary artery (axilla,
lateral chest, joint) and then as the brachial artery, which branches to form:
a. radial artery
b. ulnar arteries
Thoracic Aorta and its Branches

(Descending aorta)
- The thoracic aorta has visceral branches, which supply the thoracic organs, and
parietal branches, in which, supplies the thoracic wall.
Abdominal Aorta and its Branches
- The abdominal aorta has visceral branches, which supplies the thoracic organs,
and parietal branches, which supplies the abdominal wall.
a. Celiac trunk – liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, spleen

b. Superior and Inferior mesenteric arteries – pancreas, small and large intestines
c. Renal arteries – kidneys
d. Gonadal (ovarian and testicular) arteries
e. Common iliac arteries (L5 level)
Arteries of the Pelvis
- The branches of the internal iliac arteries supply the pelvis.
Arteries of the Lower Limbs
- The common iliac arteries give rise to the external iliac arteries, and the external
iliac artery continues as the femoral artery and then as popliteal artery in the leg.
The popliteal artery divides to form the anterior (knee, leg) and posterior (knee,
leg) tibial arteries.
- Femoral arteries (genitals, abdominal wall, thigh muscles)
1.2 Blood Vessels of the Systemic Circulation: Veins
Veins of the Head and Neck
- The internal jugular veins drain the brain, anterior head, and anterior neck. Then,
the external jugular veins drain the posterior head and posterior neck.
a. External Jugular Vein – parotid gland, facial muscles, scalp

b. Internal jugular vein – brain
c. Vertebral vein – skull, cervical spinal cord
Veins of the Upper Limbs
- Within the axilla region, the subclavian vein became known as axillary vein which
receives blood from several veins that follows:
a. Cephalic vein – lateral arm and forearm

b. Basilic vein – medial arm and forearm
c. Brachial vein
d. Radial Vein
e. Ulnar vein
Veins of the Thorax
- The left and right brachiocephalic veins and the azygos veins return to the superior
vena cava.
Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis
- Posterior abdominal wall veins join the azygos veins. Veins from the kidneys,
adrenal glands, and gonads directly enter the inferior vena cava. The veins from
the stomach, intestines, spleen, and pancreas connect with the hepatic portal vein,
which transports blood to the liver for processing. The hepatic veins from the liver
join the inferior vena cava.
Note: A portal system begins and ends in capillaries, with this, the blood from
capillaries in the digestive organs is carried to capillaries in the liver. With this, the
hepatic portal vein, enters the liver, receives blood from digestive organs.
Veins of the Lower Limbs
- The external iliac vein continues into the thigh as the femoral vein, which receives
blood from the following veins
a. Great saphenous vein – medial side of leg and thigh (longest blood vessel
within the body).
b. Anterior and Posterior Tibial
Summary of the systemic circulation

- Oxygen – rich blood pumped to all organ systems to supply nutrients
- The rate of the blood flow through systemic circulation is equivalent to the flow rate
of through pulmonary circulation.

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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY: SYSTEMIC CIRULATION REPORT

Introduction: (After video)

1.1 Blood Vessels of the systemic circulation: Arteries

Arteries of the head and neck

Thoracic Aorta and its Branches

Abdominal Aorta and its Branches

a. Celiac trunk – liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, spleen

Arteries of the Pelvis

- The branches of the internal iliac arteries supply the pelvis.

Arteries of the Lower Limbs

1.2 Blood Vessels of the Systemic Circulation: Veins

Veins of the Head and Neck

a. External Jugular Vein – parotid gland, facial muscles, scalp

Veins of the Upper Limbs

a. Cephalic vein – lateral arm and forearm

Veins of the Thorax

Veins of the Lower Limbs

Summary of the systemic circulation

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