Cardio - Circulatory System Anatomy

Question 1

What are the major arteries of the body? (from the heart to the foot)

Answer 1

Common iliac
External iliac
Femoral
Popliteal
Posterior tibial
Plantar arch

Question 2

What are the major veins of the body? (from the heart to the foot)

Answer 2

Common iliac
External iliac
Femoral
Great saphenous vein
Popliteal
Posterior tibial
Plantar venous

Question 3

What is the largest vein in the body?

Answer 3

Great saphenous vein

Question 4

What are the 2 deep veins in the body? (from the heart to the foot)

Answer 4

Posterior tibial vein and popliteal vein

Question 5

What are the 3 walls of blood vessels?

Answer 5

tunica intima, media, and adventitia (externa)

Question 6

This is a simple squamous epithelium which lines the lumen of all vessels

Answer 6

Endothelium

Question 7

This is a sparse pad of loose FCT which provides cushioning for the endothelium

Answer 7

Sub-endothelium

Question 8

This is a condensed sheet of elastic tissue. It is well developed in arteries and less developed in veins.

Answer 8

Internal elastic lamina (IEL)

Question 9

This is the innermost layer of the blood vessel and faces towards the blood.

Answer 9

Tunica intima

Question 10

What are the 3 components that make up the tunica intima?

Answer 10

Endothelium, sub-endothelium, IEL internal elastic lamina

Question 11

What muscle type is tunica media made up of?

Answer 11

Smooth muscle

Question 12

This is a layer of blood vessel that contains connective tissue fibres, mainly elastin and collagen. The thickness of this layer is directly proportional to vessel diameter and blood pressure.

Answer 12

Tunica media

Question 13

This is a layer of blood vessel that is made up of loose FCT with a high content of collagen and variable amount of elastin.

Answer 13

Tunica adventitia

Question 14

Lymphatics and autonomic nerves are found in this blood vessel layer.

Answer 14

Tunica adventitia

Question 15

In larger vessels, the adventitia may contain these structures which provides an important source of nutrients to arteries and veins.

Answer 15

Vasa vasorum

Question 16

How is the contractile tone of the adventitia altered and controlled?

Answer 16

Under autonomic tone by autonomic nerves

Question 17

These are the resistance vessels of the circulation - they determine the blood pressure.

Answer 17

Arteriole

Question 18

These are low pressure, large volume transport systems with a unidirectional flow. They may also act as capacitance vessels to accomodate extra blood.

Answer 18

Veins

Question 19

This is the site of exchange between blood and tissues.

Answer 19

Capillaries

Question 20

These are the smallest veins found in the body. These connect the capillaries with veins.

Answer 20

Venules

Question 21

These are responsible for connecting the capillaries with the arteries.

Answer 21

Arterioles

Question 22

Why do veins have twice the cross-sectional area compared to arteries?

Answer 22

Because veins pump blood under low pressure, and so in order to keep the same volume of blood passing through the arteries and veins - the cross sectional area has to be larger.

Question 23

What is the tunica intima made of?

Answer 23

Elastin

Question 24

What is the dominant type of structure found in the tunica media?

Answer 24

Smooth muscle

Question 25

What lines the lumen of all vessels in the cardiovascular system?

Answer 25

Endothelium

Question 26

What is the thickest layer of a vein?

Answer 26

Tunica adventitia