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Dissection of major arterial pathways
Anterior view
Dissection of aortic arch and its branches
Anterior view
The left ventricle pumps blood into the much larger
systemic circulation, which is distributed throughout
all the body’s tissues. Unlike the smaller pulmonary
Systemic Circuit
circuit, the extensive systemic circuit serves a multitude of functions before returning to the right atrium:
(1) it distributes the necessary nutrients and other supplies to all the body cells while removing their
metabolic wastes; (2) it acquires metabolic fuel through the lining of the digestive system to distribute
throughout the body; (3) it expels wastes and excess water and adjusts the body’s electrolyte compo-
sition through its association with the tubes of the kidney; (4) it distributes generated heat throughout
the body and plays an important role in adjusting heat loss to the external environment as it courses
through the skin; and (5) it distributes hormones, regulatory chemical-messenger molecules secreted
by endocrine glands, to various sites of action throughout the body.
1 Aorta
2 Brachiocephalic artery
3 Right common carotid artery
4 Right subclavian artery
5 Right internal thoracic artery
6 Left common carotid artery
7 Left subclavian artery
8 Left axillary artery
9 Left brachial artery
10 Left ulnar artery
11 Left radial artery
12 Left radial recurrent artery
13 Coeliac trunk
14 Common hepatic artery
15 Left gastric artery
16 Splenic artery
17 Superior mesenteric artery
18 Right renal artery
19 Left renal artery
20 Inferior mesenteric artery
21 Common iliac arteries
22 Internal iliac arteries
23 External iliac artery
24 Femoral artery
25 Deep femoral artery
26 Popliteal artery
27 Azygos vein
28 Thyroid gland
29 Trachea
30 Ligamentum arteriosum
31 Vagus nerve
32 Phrenic nerve
33 Anterior scalene muscle
34 Brachialis muscle
35 Brachioradialis muscle
36 Innermost intercostal muscles
37 Quadratus lumborum muscle
38 Psoas major muscle
39 Clavicle
40 First rib
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