SYSTEMIC CIRCULATION/ GENERAL CIRCULATION
Objectives
Describe systemic circulation to the head and neck
Describe circle of Willis
Blood pumped out from the left ventricle is carried by the branches of the aorta
around the body and returns to the right atrium of the heart via the superior vena
cava and inferior vena cava from the rest of the body
Circulation of the blood to the head and neck
As blood leaves the heart through the left ventricle, it goes to the aorta which
then branches to form brachiocephalic artery
The brachiocephalic artery divides into 2 forming the right common carotid
artery which supply blood to the head and neck while the left carotid artery
arises from the arch of the aorta passes upwards on either side of the neck
At the upper branches of the thyroid cartilage they divide into the external and
internal carotid arteries
The external carotid artery supply superficial tissue of the head and neck .
Superior thyroid artery supply thyroid gland and adjacent muscles
Facial artery supply the tongue , the membrane lining the mouth
Occipital artery supplies the superior part of the scalp
Temporal artery supply the frontal temporal and parietal part or the scalp
Maxillary artery supplies muscles of mastication. Has a branch that supplies
structures anterior of the skull
Internal Carotid Artery
It’s the major contributor to the circle of Willis. Circle of Willis supply the
major part of the brain (O2, nutrients).
Circle of Willis
Is also known as circulus arteriosus. There are 4 arteries that contribute to its
formation thus 2 internal carotid arteries and 2 vertebral arteries.
These arise from the subclavian arteries pass upwards through the foramina in
the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae
They enter the skull through the foramen of magnum
They join to form the basilar artery
The circulus arteriosus is therefore formed by: 2 anterior cerebral arteries 2
internal carotid arteries 1 anterior communicating artery 2 posterior
communicating arteries 2 posterior cerebral arteries 1 basilar artery.
The arrangement in the circulus arteriosus is such that the brain as a whole
receives an adequate blood supply when a contributing artery is damaged and
during extreme movements of the head and neck
Venous return of head and neck
Its by the deep superficial veins with the same names as the branches of the
external carotid arteries.
They return blood from the face and scalp, and join to form the external jugular
vein
External Jugular vein
Begins in the neck , passes downwards in front of the sternocleidomastoid
muscle behind the clavicle enters the subclavian vein
The venous blood from the deep areas of the brain is collected into channels
called the dural venous sinuses.
Main venous sinuses are 1 superior sagittal sinus, 1 inferior sagittal sinus, 1
straight sinus, 2 transverse lateral sinuses, 2 sigmoid sinuses
Internal Jugular Veins
The internal jugular veins begin at the jugular foramina in the middle cranial
fossa and each is the continuation of a sigmoid sinus.
They run downwards in the neck behind the sternocleidomastoid muscles.
Behind the clavicle they unite with the subclavian veins.
The brachiocephalic veins are situated one on each side in the root of the neck.
Each is formed by the union of the internal jugular and the subclavian veins.
The left brachiocephalic vein is longer than the right and passes obliquely
behind the manubrium of the sternum, where it joins the right brachiocephalic
vein to form the superior vena cava
The superior vena cava, which drains all the venous blood from the head, neck
and upper limbs, is about 7 cm long
B. Circulation of blood to the upper limbs
Arterial supply
The right subclavian artery arises from the brachiocephalic artery; the left
branches from the arch of the aorta.
Before entering the axillae, each subclavian artery gives off 2 branches namely
vertebral artery and internal thoracic artery
Internal thoracic supply the breast and the several structures that are found in
the thoracic cavity.
There are anastomoses between the radial and ulnar arteries, called the deep and
superficial palmar arches, from which palmar metacarpal and palmar digital
arteries arise to supply the structures in the hand and fingers.
Venous return
Upper limbs are both drained by both deep and superficial veins.
Deep veins follow the course of the arteries and have the same names: palmar
metacarpal veins deep palmar venous arch ulnar and radial veins brachial vein
axillary vein subclavian vein.
The superficial veins begin in the hand and consist of the following: cephalic
vein basilic vein median vein median cubital vein.
C.Circulation of the thoracic cavity
Arterial Supply
Branches of the thoracic aorta supply structures of the chest.
Brachial arteries supply the lung tissue though not directly involved in gaseous
exchange.
Oesophageal arteries supply the oesophagus
Intercostal arteries that run along the inferior border of the ribs and supply the
intercostal muscles, some muscles of the thorax, the ribs, the skin and its
underlying connective tissues.
Venous return
Most of the venous blood from the organs in the thoracic cavity is drained into
the azygos vein and the hemiazygos vein
. Some of the main veins that join them are the bronchial, oesophageal and
intercostal veins
There are many anastomotic connection so that if one is blocked blood has an
alternative root bak to the heart
D.Circulation to the abdomen
Branches of the abdominal aorta supply structure in the abdomen
Paired branches are as follows:-
Inferior phrenic arteries supply the diaphragm. Renal arteries supply the
kidneys, suprarenal arteries supply the adrenal glands.
Gonadal arteries supply ovaries and testis
Unpaired branches are as follows:-
The coeliac artery is a short thick artery about 1.25 cm long. It arises
immediately below the diaphragm and divides into three branches: the left
gastric artery supplies the stomach the splenic artery supplies the pancreas and
the spleen the hepatic artery supplies the liver, gall bladder and parts of the
stomach, duodenum and pancreas.
Superior mesenteric artery supplies the whole of the small intestine and the
proximal half of the large intestine. The inferior mesenteric artery t supplies the
distal half of the large intestine and part of the rectum
Venous return from the abdominal organs
Gastric veins drain blood from the stomach and the distal end of the oesophagus
then join the portal vein
Cystic vein drains venous blood from gall bladder and join the portal vein
E.PORTAL CIRCULATION
Arterial supply
Blood from the remaining organs in the abdominal cavity passes through the
liver via the portal circulation before entering the inferior vena cava
Portal vein is formed by union of several veins each of which drain blood from
the are supplied by corresponding artery
The splenic vein drains blood from the spleen, pancreas and part of the stomach
The superior mesenteric vein returns venous blood from the small intestine and
the proximal parts of the large intestine, i.e. the caecum, ascending and
transverse colon
It joins the splenic vein to form the portal vein. The gastric veins drain blood
from the stomach and the distal end of the oesophagus, then join the portal vein.
The cystic vein, which drains venous blood from the gall bladder, joins the
portal vein
Venous drainage
Hepatic veins drain the liver, renal veins drain the kidneys, suprarenal vein
drain adrenal glands, lumber vein drain lower abdominal structures and gonadal
veins drain ovaries and testes.
F.BLOOD SUPPLY TO THE PELVIS
Arterial supply
Common iliac arteries
Internal iliac artery runs medially to supply the organs within the pelvic cavity.
In the female, one of the largest branches is the uterine artery, which provides
the main arterial blood supply to the reproductive organs.
The external iliac artery runs obliquely downwards and passes behind the
inguinal ligament into the thigh where it becomes the femoral artery.
Femoral artery supplies blood to the structures of the thigh and some superficial
pelvic and inguinal structures.
Anterior tibial artery supplies the structures in the front of the leg
Posterior tibial artery supplies the lateral aspect of the leg.
The plantar artery supplies the structures in the sole of the foot
Venous return
There are both deep and superficial veins in the lower limb
The deep veins accompany the arteries and their branches and have the same
names. They are the: femoral vein, which t becomes the external iliac vein
External iliac vein, is the continuation of the femoral vein and is joined by the
internal iliac vein to form the common iliac vein
Internal iliac vein, receives tributaries from several veins draining the organs of
the pelvic cavity
Two common iliac veins unit to form the inferior vena cava.
Superficial veins - The two main superficial veins draining blood from the
lower limbs are the small and the great saphenous veins.
Small saphenous veins have small veins that drain the dorsum of the foot and
joins the popliteal vein (deep vein)
The great saphenous vein is the longest vein in the body, joins the femoral vein
just below the inguinal ligament
