Week 5 Content. Arteries and veins of the upper limb

Question 1

what are the components of the circulation system

Answer 1

HEART:
- contracts rhythmically
- muscle organ
- pushes blood via the circulatory system
ARTERY:
- thick muscular wall
- carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the peripheries
- exemption *some arteries carry de-oxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs (ONLY in pulmonary system)
VEINS:
- thin-walled
- contains valves to allow blood to flow against gravity
- carries blood back to heart
- exemption * veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart (ONLY in pulmonary system)

Question 2

How does blood travel from the heart to the fingers

Answer 2

Via arteries running from:
1. heart
2. subclavian artery
3. brachial artery
4. radial and ulnar artery
5. palmar arches and digital arteries

Question 3

What is the region arteries pass to travel to the arm, and what are the muscles/ bones associated with it

Answer 3

Axilla
- Three walled region
includes:
- Medial: serratus anterior, ribs
- Lateral: humerus
- Anterior: pectoral major and minor
- Posterior: teres major and minor, latissimus dorsi, subscapularis

Question 4

what is contained within the Axilla

Answer 4

• neurovascular bundles: nerves, arteries and veins
• axillary lymph nodes

Question 5

Where does the subclavian artery change its name along the upper arm (5)

Answer 5

subclavian - under clavicle
axillary - axilla
circumflex humeral - wraps around humeral neck
brachial - runs along the arm
profunda brachii - deep branch off the brachial, wraps under and around humerus, rejoins at the cubital fossa

Question 6

What are the branches off the brachial artery that run into the forearm and hand

Answer 6

• radial: runs along the lateral margin of the forearm
• ulnar: runs along the medial margin of the forearm
• Posterior interosseous: branches of the ulnar artery, runs through the interosseous membrane to posterior compartment

Question 7

what are the arteries that branch of radial and ulnar artery

Answer 7

• superficial palmar arch: runs around palmar from radial artery (not crossing any bones) and reconnects with ulnar artery
• deep palmar arch: runs over scaphoid, behind thumb and back into palmar, creating arch before reconnecting to ulnar artery
• metacarpal and digital arteries: arise from palmar arches

Question 8

What are the role and characteristics of the veins in the upper limb

Answer 8

• return de-oxygenated blood back to the heart
• hug arteries - start small then get larger closer to heart
• can be deep and superficial
• contain valves to enable flow against gravity - prevent backflow
• valves are called “cusps”

Question 9

list the areas and direction of blood flow in a vein

Answer 9

1. palmar arches
2. basilic, cephalic, median cubital
3. brachial
4. axillary
5. subclavian
6. heart

Question 10

What are the characteristics of a deep vein

Answer 10

1. carry same name as arteries
2. hug deep arteries
3. AKA “Venae Comitantes” - deep veins that pair and wrap closely with arteries
4. thin walled - can easily adjust width depending on amount of blood flow

Question 11

What are the characteristics of superficial veins in forearm, what are the main veins

Answer 11

• run superficial, just under skin
• radial = cephalic
• medial = basilic
• cubital fossa = median cubital

Question 12

identify the cubital fossa and the surrounding muscular components

Answer 12

-formed by the brachioradialis and pronator teres and the line between the humeral epicondyles
- contains the brachial artery, median cubital vein, medial and radial nerve

Question 13

where does the cephalic and brachial vein originate and insert

Answer 13

1. Cephalic runs from palmar arches, past lateral elbow, between deltoid and pectoral major
2. Basilic runs from palmar arches, medially along forearm and elbow and joins brachial vein in medial upper arm to form axillary vein