Major Arteries of the Body

Question 1

Which arteries branch off from the arch of the aorta?

Answer 1

1. Brachicephalic trunk which bifurcates into the right common carotid and right subclavian artery.
2. Left common carotid artery
3. Left subclavian artery

Question 2

Describe the brachiocephalic trunk

Answer 2

Supplies the right arm, head and neck.

Bifurcates into the R subclavian and R common carotid artery

Question 3

Describe the right subclavian artery

Answer 3

Branches from brachiocephalic trunk.

Supplies the right arm

Question 4

Describe the left subclavian artery

Answer 4

Branches from the aortic arch.

Supplies the left arm

Question 5

Describe the left common carotid artery

Answer 5

Branches from the arch of the aorta.
Supplies the head and neck.
Bifurcates into the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery

Question 6

Describe the left common carotid artery

Answer 6

Branches from the ascending aorta.
Supplies the head and neck.
Bifurcates into the internal carotid artery and external carotid artery

Question 7

Describe the internal carotid artery

Answer 7

Supplies the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere, eye and accessory organs, forehead and part of the nose

Question 8

Describe the external carotid artery

Answer 8

Supplies many branches: superior thyroid, facial, occipital, superficial temporal, maxillary

Question 9

What artery supplies the thorax?

Answer 9

Thoracic aorta and its intercostal branches

• • is in the posterior mediastinal cavity
• • have bronchial, mediastinal, pericardial, oesophageal branches

Question 10

Name the arteries that branch from the descending aorta from superior to inferior

Answer 10

Celiac Artery
Suprarenal arteries
Superior Mesenteric artery
Renal arteries
Ovarian/testicular arteries 
Inferior mesenteric artery
Abdominal aorta

Question 11

Describe the celiac artery

Answer 11

Arises from the descending aorta

Branches into the: left gastric, common hepatic and splenic arteries

Question 12

Describe the superior mesenteric artery

Answer 12

Arises from the descending aorta
Supplies the small intestine
Leaves aorta about 1cm below the celiac trunk

Question 13

Describe the renal arteries

Answer 13

Arises from descending aorta just below the superior mesenteric arteries
Right is higher than the left

Question 14

Describe the ovarian/testicular arteries

Answer 14

Arise slightly inferior to the renal arteries

Question 15

Describe the inferior mesenteric arteries

Answer 15

Arises 3-4cm above the aortic bifurcation.

Supplies left 1/3 of transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum.

Question 16

Describe the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta

Answer 16

Bifurcates into common iliac arteries at the left side of the 4th lumbar vertebral body.

Question 17

Describe the bifurcation of the common iliac arteries.

Answer 17

Bifurcate into internal and external iliac arteries.