Major Arteries in the Body

Posted by LE on 22nd Jun 2017

In honor of the Stop The Bleed, Save A Life campaign, we thought we would take a little time to discuss the major arteries in the human body and their importance. Arteries are thick blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. They are responsible for carrying oxygenated blood throughout the body after it has been pumped by the heart. The blood pressure in arteries are higher than other parts of the circulatory system, and can vary during the cardiac cycle. As the heart contracts, blood pressure rises and then falls as the heart relaxes. This variation in blood pressure produces a pulse, which can easily be felt in different areas of the body. Here’s a quick overview of some of the major arteries in the body and the role they play in your circulatory system.

Aorta

The largest and probably most well-known artery in the body, the aorta is considered the root systemic artery. It supplies all of the systemic circulation in the body. This means the entire body, expect for the respiratory zone of the lungs, receives blood from the aorta. The branches of the ascending aorta supply the heart, the thoracic descending aorta supply the chest, the aortic arch supply the head, neck, and arms, and the abdominal aorta supply the abdomen.

Femoral Artery

Main arterial supply to the lower limbs, the femoral artery is located in the thigh. Since the femoral artery can be easily palpated through the skin, it is often used for catheter access. From there, catheters and wires can be directed anywhere in the arterial system, including the brain, heart, kidneys, arms, and legs. The femoral artery can also be used to draw arterial blood when blood pressure is low and other arteries cannot be located.

Carotid Artery

Split into the right and left common carotid arteries, these are the arteries that supply the head and the neck with oxygenated blood. They also divide in the neck to form the internal and external carotid arteries.

These are just a few of the many arteries which can be found in the human body. If you would like to purchase bleed control kits for your home or business, come to www.stopthebleeding.com and check out what we have in stock.