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17.3: Vessels of the Heart

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    Vessels of the Heart

    The major vessels carrying blood away from the heart are the aorta and the pulmonary trunk which splits into the right and left pulmonary arteries. The aorta has different regions (ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta). The descending aorta is shown in the figures as being cut, but would continue to descend along the posterior aspect of the heart through the thoracic and abdominal cavities. The right and left pulmonary arteries travel to the right and left lungs, respectively.

    Cadaver image of blood vessels of the heart. L. pulmonary a. R. pulmonary a. pulmonary vv_ L. atrium (wall) R. pulmonary w. Pulmonary trunk Ascending aorta vena cava vena cava

    Above: Lateral view of the right side of a heart with blood vessels colored to indicate the oxygenation of blood passing through these vessels.

    Large blood vessels of the heart. left common carobd artery brachiocephalic trunk ascending aorta superior vena cava pulmonary inferior vena cava coronary arteries left subclavian artery aorbc arch descending aorta right pulmonary left common brachiocephalic carotid artery trunk superior vena cava pulmonary pulmonary trunk left pulmonary artery left pulmonary coronary arteries left subclavian artery aorbc arch descending aorta right pulmonary artery left pulmonary artery left pulmonary

    Above: Large vessels of the heart (left) anterior view and (right) lateral view of the left side of the heart.

    Large blood vessels of the heart

    Above: External view of the heart and its large vessels (left) anterior view and (right) posterior view. In the posterior view, the trachea and bronchi block the view of the ascending aorta, aortic arch, and pulmonary trunk, but the descending aorta and right and left pulmonary arteries can be seen.

    The major vessels carrying blood toward the heart are the superior vena cava (vena= vein), inferior vena cava, left pulmonary veins, and right pulmonary veins. The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava carry blood to the heart from the superior and inferior regions of the body, respectively. The right and left pulmonary veins carry blood back to the heart from the right and left lungs, respectively.

    Coronary arteries are found along the surface of the heart. These arteries provide nutrients to the heart tissue. The individual coronary arteries have specific names - see the Coronary Circulation section in this chapter.

    This page titled 17.3: Vessels of the Heart is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Rosanna Hartline.

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