Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Anatomy | Great Vessels, Main Peripheral Arteries and Veins

Great Vessels, Main Peripheral Arteries and Veins
Session Overview
Description
This session describes the four sets of great vessels originating or terminating in the heart, along with their major branches and tributaries in the thorax, abdomen and limbs.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe the four sets of great vessels originating or ending in the heart, including their formation and their main branches and tributaries
• Identify the major branches of the aorta in the thorax and abdomen and the arterial supply of the upper and lower limbs
• List the major blood vessels in the neck
• Describe venous drainage in the upper and lower limbs and the formation of the inferior and superior venae cavae

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should have:

• A basic knowledge of the gross anatomy of the heart

Basic knowledge of blood supply to the body helps the understanding of relevant clinical correlations and the practical applications of anatomical information such as insertion of central lines and arterial lines.

It also helps the understanding of the clinical contexts of various operations on the great vessels and their branches as well as peripheral arteries and veins.

The first half of this session describes the four sets of great vessels originating or terminating in the heart along with their major branches, and tributaries of the great vessels in the thorax and neck.

The second half of this session describes the branches of the aorta beyond the thorax and below the diaphragm. It also gives an overview of other major blood vessels including the arterial supply and venous drainage of both the upper and lower limbs.