Oct 23 &27/17

Laboratory Exercises #10

Circulatory System2
Blood Vessels of the Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis and Perineum
Blood Vessels of the Lower Extremities
Lymphatic System

Materials and Resources

Models of the Trunk and Lower Extremities with blood vessels
Models of the lungs, liver, stomach, intestines, spleen and pancreas
Pre-dissected lower Extremities
Laboratory Guide
Gross Anatomy Textbooks
Gross Anatomy Atlases
Laboratory Technician
Empty Dissecting tables

Mechanics
I. Blood vessels of the thorax
Get model of the torso.
Identify the subclavian vessels at the root of the neck.

Blood vessels of anterior thoracic wall

Remove the anterior thoracic wall. Identify the blood vessels in the
posterior/internal surface of anterior thoracic wall, the internal mammary (thoracic)
vessels descending along the lateral border of the sternum.

Identify the anterior intercostal vessels along the lower border of the upper 6
ribs.
Trace the internal thoracic artery as it bifurcates into musculophrenic
and superior epigastric arteries at the level of the 6th intercostal space. Identify these
vessels.

Take note the lower intercostal spaces (7th, 8th and 9th) are supplied by branches
of the musculophrenic artery.

All intercostal arteries above, are accompanied by corresponding veins that drain
in the following manner anterior intercostal veins -> venae comitantes of internal
thoracic artery, -> corresponding innominate or brachiocephalic vein

Blood vessels of the posterior thoracic wall

Remove the thoracic viscera.
Identify the arch of aorta and its branches. Trace the continuation of the arch to
the left and downward. This is the thoracic aorta. Identify the parietal branches to
the posterior intercostal spaces, the lower 9 posterior intercostal arteries from the
3rd to the 11th.

Locate the arteries that supply the upper 2 posterior intercostal spaces. Where
do come from?

The intercostal arteries and veins run along the lower border of the ribs.
Locate the subcostal artery along the lower border of the 12th rib and the
superior phrenic going the diaphragm.
 Identify the azygos vein to the right side of the thoracic vertebrae. Trace it
upward to its termination. Where does it terminate?

Identify the vein that terminates into the azygos vein from the upper part of the
right side of the posterior thoracic wall. This vein is the superior intercostal vein.

To the left side of the vertebral column is the hemiazygos vein.

Blood vessels of the thoracic viscera

Locate the blood vessels on the esophagus. Name the arteries that supply each
division of the 3 divisons of the esophagus.

Get a model of the lungs and identify the blood vessels on the medial surface (hilus).
Identify the pulmonary artery and veins.

II. Blood vessels of the abdomen

Blood vessels on the posterior abdominal wall
Remove all the abdominal viscera.
Identify the big blood vessels on the posterior abdominal wall in front
of the vertebral column. On the left side is the abdominal aorta and to its right is the
inferior vena cava.

Trace the abdominal aorta upward from its commencement at the aortic hiatus
(level of T12 vertebra) to its bifurcation into the 2 common iliac arteries at the level of
L4 vertebra.

Identify the paired parietal branches from above downward inferior phrenic
and the 4 lumbar arteries.
Identify the unpaired parietal branch, the median sacral artery going downward
to the pelvic cavity.

Identify the paired visceral branches from above downward middle suprarenal,
renal and gonadal (testicular or ovarian) arteries.

Identify the unpaired visceral branches on the anterior surface of the abdominal
aorta from above downward celiac trunk, superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric
arteries.

To the right and inferior to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta is the
commencement of the inferior vena cava. The inferior vena cava is form by the union of
the 2 common iliac veins at the level of L5 vertebra.

Identify the tributaries of the inferior vena cava from below upward the
unpaired median sacral vein terminating behind its commencement, the paired lower 2
lumbar veins, right gonadal, left and right renal veins, right suprarenal vein and the right
inferior phrenic and the hepatic veins.

Get a model of the liver and identify the inferior vena cava traversing the
posterior aspect. It is here where it receives the hepatic veins before entering the
thorax.
Identify the portal vein and hepatic artery in the inferior surface of the liver.

Identify the left inferior phrenic, left suprarenal and left gonadal veins draining
into the left renal vein.
 Identify the common iliac arteries and veins and trace them to their bifurcation
into external and internal iliac arteries and veins.

Identify the internal iliac artery descending into the lateral wall of the pelvic cavity.
Identify its branches. Please see your atlas for its branches. Corresponding veins except
the umbilical artery accompany these branches.

III. Blood vessels of the lower extremities

Follow the external iliac vessels distally until they pass under inguinal ligament.
Identify the femoral vessels, femoral artery and vein below the inguinal ligament.

At the back of the knee joint (popliteal fossa) identify the popliteal vessels. And
then distally in the posterior aspect of the leg are the posterior tibial arteries and
veins. Identify them.

Identify the anterior tibial vessels in the antero-lateral leg. Locate the dorsalis
pedis over the dorsum of foot.