The aorta – main arterial trunk of systematic circulation, carries blood from the left ventricle. Three sections in the aorta: 1) aorta ascendens – begins as marked bulbus; 2) arcus aortae; 3) aorta descendens. To the level of the hiatus aorticus – the descending aorta is called the thoracic aorta; when the aorta in abdominal cavity – is called abdominal aorta. Branches of the thoracic aorta:Rami visceralis:
1. Bronchial branches – supply nutrients to the lung, carry arterial blood for lymph nodes and alveoli.
2. Oesophageal branches – Supply esophagus, form anastomoses with branches of a. inferior thyroid.
3. Mediastinal branches – pass to the connective tissue of posterior mediastinum.
4. Pericardial branches – goes to the pericardium.
Rami parietalis:
1) 10 pairs of intercostal arteries (III-XI). Supply: spinal cord, muscles and skin of the back, ribs.
2) Superior phrenic arteries – branches out on surface of diaphragm, they anastomoses with pericardiacophrenic, musculophrenic and posterior intercostal arteries.
Superior vena cava: forming, tributaries, topography, projection. Azygos, hemiazygos veins: topography, tributaries. Ages peculiarities of the superior caval vein.
Superior vena cava: collects blood from upper half of body, drains into the right atrium. Forming: is formed by union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins. Tributaries: azygos vein, several small mediastinal and pericardial veins. Projection: It begins behind the lower border of sternal end of right costal cartilage, and terminates by opening into the upper part of the right atrium behind the third right costal cartilage. Azygos vein: is a unilateral vessel that ascends in the thorax to right side of vertebral column. Tributaries: hemiazygos vein; posterior right intercostal veins; right superior phrenic vein; right superior intercostal vein; tracheal veins; oesophageal veins; bronchial veins; pericardial veins. Hemiazygos vein: runs superiorly in the lower thoracic region, to the left side of the vertebral column. Tributaries: It receives the 9th, 10th, and 11th posterior intercostal veins and the subcostal vein of the left side, and some esophageal and mediastinal veins.