Arteries — table
Course, branches and the territory each artery supplies. 49 entries.
Heart — coronary circulation 5
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right coronary artery | It starts in the right aortic sinus and passes between the pulmonary trunk and right auricle. It then runs in the right coronary sulcus around the acute margin to the crux, where it usually turns down as the posterior… | In order from proximal to distal: the conus artery (which anastomoses with the LAD around the infundibulum), the SA nodal artery (≈60%), right atrial branches, the right marginal (acute marginal) artery along the inferior border,… | Supplies the right atrium and most of the right ventricle.; Supplies the SA node (≈60%) and AV node (≈80–90%).;… |
| Left coronary artery | It starts in the left aortic sinus, runs behind and then to the left of the pulmonary trunk, and emerges between the trunk and the left auricle. It divides at the left end of the coronary sulcus. | The left anterior descending artery, the circumflex artery and sometimes a ramus intermedius. | Supplies the anterior and lateral left ventricle, the apex, the left atrium and the anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum.; Through the LAD's septal perforators, supplies the bundle of His and bundle branches.;… |
| Left anterior descending artery | It runs from the bifurcation of the left main stem down the anterior interventricular sulcus to the apex, and usually turns around the apex into the posterior interventricular sulcus. | Diagonal branches (to the anterolateral LV wall), septal perforators (to the anterior two-thirds of the septum and the conduction tissue), small right ventricular branches, the left conus artery and apical branches. | Supplies the anterior LV wall, the anterior two-thirds of the septum and the apex.; Supplies the bundle of His, the right bundle branch and the left anterior fascicle.;… |
| Circumflex artery | It starts at the bifurcation of the left main stem and runs in the left atrioventricular groove around the left (obtuse) margin onto the diaphragmatic surface, ending short of the crux unless the heart is left-dominant. | Obtuse marginal branches, left atrial branches, the SA nodal artery (≈40%), posterolateral branches and, in left dominance, the posterior interventricular and AV nodal arteries. | Supplies the lateral and posterolateral left ventricular wall and the left atrium.; Shares the supply of the anterolateral papillary muscle.;… |
| Posterior interventricular artery | It starts at the crux, usually as the continuation of the RCA, and runs in the posterior interventricular sulcus toward the apex. | — | Supplies the inferior (diaphragmatic) walls of both ventricles.; Supplies the posterior third of the interventricular septum.; Usually provides the only supply to the posteromedial papillary muscle. |
Great vessels 3
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aorta | — | Ascending aorta: right and left coronary arteries. Arch: brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid and left subclavian arteries.… | Conducts the entire left ventricular output to the systemic circulation.; Smooths pulsatile ejection into continuous flow and maintains diastolic pressure (Windkessel effect).;… |
| Pulmonary trunk | — | The right and left pulmonary arteries. | Carries the whole right ventricular output, about 5 L/min of deoxygenated blood, to the lungs.; Its elastic wall buffers pulsatile right ventricular ejection. |
| Pulmonary arteries (right and left) | — | — | Deliver mixed venous blood to the alveolar capillaries for gas exchange.; Filter small venous emboli and microthrombi out of the circulation. |
Arteries — head & neck 10
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brachiocephalic trunk | — | The right common carotid artery and the right subclavian artery. Occasionally it also gives a thyroid ima artery. | Carries blood to the right side of the head and neck and to the right upper limb. |
| Common carotid artery | — | Only its two terminal branches: the internal and external carotid arteries. | Carries the main arterial supply to the head and neck, including about 70–80% of the blood supply to the brain (via the internal carotid arteries).;… |
| Internal carotid artery | It runs from the carotid bifurcation (C3–C4) through the carotid canal and the cavernous sinus, then through the dura beside the anterior clinoid process to its termination beside the optic chiasm. | There are no branches in the neck. Small branches in the petrous and cavernous parts supply the pituitary and the dura.… | Supplies most of the cerebral hemisphere, including the frontal, parietal and much of the temporal lobes, plus the internal capsule and basal ganglia.; Supplies the orbit and retina through the ophthalmic artery.;… |
| External carotid artery | — | In order: the superior thyroid artery; the ascending pharyngeal artery; the lingual artery, at the greater horn of the hyoid, which runs deep to hyoglossus;… | Supplies the face, scalp, thyroid, larynx, tongue, pharynx, teeth, jaws, nasal cavity and most of the dura mater. |
| Middle meningeal artery | It runs from the maxillary artery through the foramen spinosum, then in grooves on the inner surface of the squamous temporal and parietal bones. | — | Supplies the dura mater and the calvarial bone of the middle cranial fossa and the lateral skull. |
| Vertebral artery | It runs from the first part of the subclavian artery through the transverse foramina of C6 to C1, around the atlas and through the foramen magnum, to join its partner at the pontomedullary junction. | Spinal (radicular) and muscular branches in the neck, and meningeal branches. Inside the skull: the anterior spinal artery (the two vertebral contributions unite), the posterior spinal arteries (often from PICA) and the posterior… | Supplies the cervical spinal cord, the medulla and the cerebellum (through PICA).; Forms the basilar artery, which supplies the brainstem, cerebellum, occipital lobes and thalami. |
| Basilar artery | — | The anterior inferior cerebellar arteries (AICA), the labyrinthine arteries (often arising from AICA), the pontine arteries (paramedian and circumferential), the superior cerebellar arteries, and finally the posterior cerebral… | Supplies the pons, much of the cerebellum, the inner ear and, through the posterior cerebral arteries, the midbrain, thalami and occipital lobes. |
| Anterior cerebral artery | — | — | Supplies the medial surface of the frontal and parietal lobes, including the paracentral lobule (leg and foot areas, and the cortical control of micturition).;… |
| Middle cerebral artery | — | — | Supplies the lateral frontal, parietal and temporal lobes, including the face and upper-limb areas of the motor and sensory cortex.;… |
| Posterior cerebral artery | — | — | Supplies the occipital lobe (visual cortex) and the inferomedial temporal lobe (including the hippocampus).; Supplies the thalamus, midbrain and splenium of the corpus callosum through perforating branches. |
Arteries — thorax & upper limb 8
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclavian artery | — | First part: the vertebral artery, internal thoracic artery and thyrocervical trunk (which gives the inferior thyroid, suprascapular and transverse cervical arteries), plus the costocervical trunk on the left.… | Supplies the upper limb, part of the neck, the brain (via the vertebral arteries), the thyroid, the shoulder girdle and the anterior chest wall. |
| Internal thoracic artery | — | The pericardiacophrenic artery (which runs with the phrenic nerve), thymic and mediastinal branches, the anterior intercostal arteries to spaces 1–6, perforating branches (those in spaces 2–4 supply the medial breast), the… | Supplies the anterior chest wall, the breast, the pericardium, the thymus, the diaphragm and the upper rectus abdominis. |
| Intercostal arteries | — | — | Supply the intercostal muscles, ribs, overlying skin, parietal pleura and the breast (lateral branches).; Contribute to the blood supply of the spinal cord through segmental medullary arteries. |
| Axillary artery | — | First part: the superior thoracic artery. Second part: the thoracoacromial trunk and the lateral thoracic artery.… | Supplies the shoulder region, the axillary walls, the lateral chest wall and the breast.; Continues as the brachial artery to supply the free upper limb. |
| Brachial artery | — | The profunda brachii (deep brachial) artery, which runs with the radial nerve in the radial groove; a nutrient artery to the humerus; the superior and inferior ulnar collateral arteries; and muscular branches.… | Supplies the anterior and posterior compartments of the arm and the elbow joint.; Continues as the radial and ulnar arteries to supply the forearm and hand. |
| Radial artery | — | The radial recurrent artery, muscular branches, palmar and dorsal carpal branches, the superficial palmar branch (which helps complete the superficial palmar arch), the princeps pollicis artery, the radialis indicis artery and… | Supplies the lateral forearm muscles, the wrist and the thumb and index finger.; Forms the deep palmar arch. |
| Ulnar artery | — | The anterior and posterior ulnar recurrent arteries; the common interosseous artery, which divides into the anterior and posterior interosseous arteries; muscular branches; palmar and dorsal carpal branches;… | Supplies the medial forearm, the deep flexors and, through the interosseous arteries, the deep compartments.; Provides the main supply to the superficial palmar arch and the fingers. |
| Palmar arterial arches | — | — | Supply the palm and fingers, with two connected sources so that the hand stays perfused if one artery is blocked. |
Arteries — abdomen & pelvis 11
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeliac trunk | — | The left gastric artery, the splenic artery and the common hepatic artery. Sometimes it also gives the inferior phrenic arteries. | Supplies the foregut derivatives (distal oesophagus to the 2nd part of the duodenum), the liver, the gallbladder, much of the pancreas and the spleen. |
| Left gastric artery | — | Oesophageal branches, gastric branches to both surfaces of the stomach along the lesser curvature, and sometimes an accessory or replaced left hepatic artery. | Supplies the abdominal oesophagus and the lesser curvature of the stomach. |
| Splenic artery | — | Pancreatic branches (the dorsal pancreatic, great pancreatic and caudal pancreatic arteries), short gastric arteries to the fundus (through the gastrosplenic ligament), the left gastro-omental (gastroepiploic) artery along the… | Supplies the spleen, the body and tail of the pancreas, and the fundus and greater curvature of the stomach. |
| Common hepatic artery | — | The gastroduodenal artery, which gives the right gastro-omental and superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries, and the proper hepatic artery, which gives the right gastric artery and the right and left hepatic arteries.… | Supplies oxygenated blood to the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts.; Supplies the pylorus, duodenum and head of pancreas through the gastroduodenal artery. |
| Superior mesenteric artery | — | In order: the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, the jejunal and ileal arteries (from its left side), the middle colic artery, the right colic artery, and the ileocolic artery (which gives the caecal, appendicular and ileal… | Supplies the midgut: the distal duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum, appendix, ascending colon and proximal two-thirds of the transverse colon.; Supplies the head of the pancreas, together with the coeliac trunk. |
| Inferior mesenteric artery | — | The left colic artery (with ascending and descending branches), two to four sigmoid arteries, and the superior rectal artery.… | Supplies the hindgut: the distal transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum and upper anal canal. |
| Renal artery | — | The inferior suprarenal artery, ureteric branches and the segmental arteries. | Delivers about 1.1–1.2 L/min of blood for glomerular filtration (renal plasma flow ≈600–650 mL/min).; Its pressure is sensed by the juxtaglomerular apparatus, which controls renin release. |
| Gonadal arteries (testicular / ovarian) | — | — | Supply the testes and epididymis, or the ovaries and uterine tubes.; The testicular artery and the pampiniform plexus form a countercurrent heat exchanger that keeps the testes about 2–3 °C below core body temperature. |
| Common iliac artery | — | The internal and external iliac arteries. | Carry the entire blood supply to the pelvis and lower limbs. |
| Internal iliac artery | — | Posterior division: the iliolumbar, lateral sacral and superior gluteal arteries. Anterior division: the umbilical (and superior vesical), obturator, inferior vesical or vaginal, middle rectal, uterine, internal pudendal and… | Supplies the bladder, rectum, internal genital organs, perineum and external genitalia.; Supplies the gluteal muscles, the pelvic wall and the hip adductors (through the obturator artery).;… |
| External iliac artery | — | The inferior epigastric artery, which gives the cremasteric artery and the pubic branch, and the deep circumflex iliac artery. | Carries the main blood supply to the lower limb.; Supplies the lower anterior abdominal wall through the inferior epigastric artery. |
Arteries — lower limb 7
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Femoral artery | — | The superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac and superficial and deep external pudendal arteries, the deep femoral artery and the descending genicular artery. | Carries the main blood supply to the thigh, leg and foot. |
| Deep femoral artery | — | The medial circumflex femoral artery, the lateral circumflex femoral artery and three or four perforating arteries. | Supplies the adductor, extensor and posterior (hamstring) muscles of the thigh.; Supplies the femoral head and neck through the medial circumflex femoral artery.;… |
| Popliteal artery | — | The superior lateral, superior medial, middle, inferior lateral and inferior medial genicular arteries, the sural arteries, and the anterior and posterior tibial arteries. | Supplies the knee joint and the calf muscles.; Carries all of the blood supply to the leg and foot. |
| Anterior tibial artery | — | The posterior and anterior tibial recurrent arteries (to the knee anastomosis), muscular branches, and the anterior medial and anterior lateral malleolar arteries. | Supplies the anterior (extensor) compartment of the leg and the front of the ankle.; Continues as the dorsalis pedis artery to supply the dorsum of the foot. |
| Posterior tibial artery | — | The circumflex fibular artery (which may arise from the anterior tibial artery), the fibular artery, the nutrient artery of the tibia, muscular branches, medial malleolar and calcaneal branches, and the medial and lateral plantar… | Supplies the posterior compartment of the leg, the tibia, the heel and the sole of the foot. |
| Fibular artery | — | Muscular branches, the nutrient artery of the fibula, a perforating branch, a communicating branch to the posterior tibial artery, and lateral malleolar and calcaneal branches. | Supplies the lateral (fibular) compartment muscles, the deep posterior muscles, the fibula and the lateral heel. |
| Dorsalis pedis artery | — | The medial and lateral tarsal arteries, the arcuate artery (which gives the dorsal metatarsal arteries to toes 2–5), the first dorsal metatarsal artery, and the deep plantar artery. | Supplies the dorsum of the foot and the toes, and helps complete the deep plantar arch. |
Fetal circulation 1
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ductus arteriosus | — | — | In the fetus, shunts right ventricular output from the pulmonary trunk into the descending aorta, bypassing the lungs. |
Renal vasculature 4
| Artery | Course | Branches | Supplies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segmental arteries of the kidney | Renal artery → anterior and posterior divisions at the hilum → segmental arteries within the renal sinus → interlobar arteries. | Each segmental artery gives off interlobar arteries that enter the renal columns. | Distribute renal arterial blood to the five vascular segments of the kidney |
| Interlobar arteries | Segmental artery → interlobar artery (renal column) → arcuate artery (base of pyramid). | Arcuate arteries. | Convey blood from segmental arteries to the corticomedullary junction |
| Arcuate arteries | — | Cortical radiate (interlobular) arteries. | Distribute blood along the corticomedullary junction to the cortex |
| Cortical radiate arteries | — | Afferent arterioles (to glomeruli); capsular branches. | Supply afferent arterioles of cortical and juxtamedullary glomeruli |