Flow of blood vessel structure and locationMatthewJustinAlexBilly

http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/images/cardio2/BlVesStr.jpg

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARTERIES, CAPILLARIES AND VEINS?

Structure

Coronary System Location

• The coronary system is comprised of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins.

• The coronary arteries originate as the right and left main coronary arteries which exit the ascending aorta just above the aortic valve

Coronary System Function

The coronary arteries supply blood to the myocardium (heart tissue) itself: e.g., coronary capillaries deliver oxygenated blood (nutrients) to all of the heart’s cells

Coronary Artery Ostia

• There are three cusps of the aortic valveo the non-coronary cuspo the right coronary cuspo left coronary cusp

• The ostia of the left and right coronary arteries are located just above the aortic valve

• Oxygenated blood is pumped into the aorta from the left ventricle; it then flows into the coronary artery ostia. Blood flow into the coronary arteries is greatest during ventricular diastole.

Superior Vena Cava

• Brings de-oxygenated blood to heart• Fed by veins in the head and upper body• Empties into the right atrium of the heart.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.daviddarling.info/images/superior_vena_cava.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/superior_vena_cava.html&h=433&w=400&sz=61&tbnid=s6B84vI1QBR8YM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=76&zoom=1&usg=__xa_RvhZ7u1m_inPd4jjQ4KWNczA=&docid=bHdBi1XDLVxUYM&sa=X&ei=QYxxUdSqNtSr2AXN0ICoBQ&ved=0CE8Q9QEwBA&dur=287

Inferior Vena Cava• Brings de-oxygenated blood to heart• Fed by veins below the heart in the body• Empties into the right atrium

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.daviddarling.info/images/superior_vena_cava.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/S/superior_vena_cava.html&h=433&w=400&sz=61&tbnid=s6B84vI1QBR8YM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=76&zoom=1&usg=__xa_RvhZ7u1m_inPd4jjQ4KWNczA=&docid=bHdBi1XDLVxUYM&sa=X&ei=QYxxUdSqNtSr2AXN0ICoBQ&ved=0CE8Q9QEwBA&dur=287

Aorta• Location

o Anterior to trachea and esophagus, on bifurcation of pulmonary artery.

• Fun Factso Diameter of your thumb

• Functiono Feeds the largest vessels in the

body with oxygen-rich blood

Pulmonary Artery• The pulmonary artery is the vessel transporting de-

oxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs.• A common misconception is that all arteries carry

oxygen-rich blood. It is more appropriate to classify arteries as vessels carrying blood away from the heart.

Pulmonary Vein• The pulmonary vein is the vessel transporting oxygen-

rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium.• A common misconception is that all veins carry de-

oxygenated blood. It is more appropriate to classify veins as vessels carrying blood to the heart.

Fun FactsCapillaries are very small, but there are millions of them.

Therefore, because the total cross-sectional area of all the capillaries is so large, the blood flow through them is correspondingly slow.

Blood flows from high pressure (in the arteries) to low pressure (in the veins).

Arteriosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries", the artery walls lose their elasticity due to deposition of collagen fibres: this is an ageing process.

The blood vessels fed by your heart are more than 60,000 miles long. They could wrap around the world twice.

Work Cited• http://www.cardioconsult.com/Anatomy/#Coronary

Arteries• http://www.vhlab.umn.edu/atlas/coronary-arteries/

coronary-artery-ostia/index.shtml• http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Bloody-Vessels-2

69439.html

• http://www.2020site.org/fun-facts/Fun-Facts-About-the-Heart.html