STUDY QUESTIONS –
UNIT 6: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Major Arteries and Veins – Study Questions
1) Name the largest artery in the human body:
aorta
largest vein? Vena cava
2) What 3 major arteries extend from the arch of the aorta?
1) brachiocephalic 2) L common carotid
3) L subclavian
3) Match the arteries in column A with the regions supplied in column B. Place the letter of your choice in the
space. (some are not on your “required” list; use your brain or the college textbook!)
Column A
A) anterior tibial artery
Column B
D____1) jaw, teeth, and brain
B) brachial artery
H___2) muscles of the chest wall
C) bronchial artery
K____3) kidney
D) carotid artery
G____4) pelvis
E) mesenteric artery
A____5) foot and toes
F) hepatic artery
F____6) thigh
G) iliac artery
B___7) triceps muscle
H) axillary artery
J___8) knee joint
I) femoral artery
C____9) lung tissue
J) popliteal artery
L____10) spleen
K) renal artery
M___11) tongue; mouth
L) splenic artery
E____12) intestines and colon
M) lingual artery
F_____13) liver
N) ulnar artery
N_____14) lower arm muscles
4) Provide the name of the missing artery in each of the following sequences:
• brachiocephalic artery – R subclavian art. - axillary artery
• ascending aorta - aortic arch - thoracic aorta
• axillary artery - brachial art. - radial artery
• subclavian artery - axillary art - brachial artery
• axillary artery - brachial art - ulnar artery
• thoracic aorta artery -
common iliac - femoral artery
• femoral artery - popliteal art.
- anterior tibial artery
5) What is the major vein that returns blood from the walls of the heart to the right atrium? (2 names; use your
notes)
Coronary sinus/ coronary veins
6) a) Describe the three layers of blood vessels (include their names).
 Tunica adventicia: thicker in veins
 Tunica media: thicker in arteries
 Tunica intima: lines both (smooth); makes up valves in veins
b) How are these layers different between arteries, veins, and capillaries?
 Tunica media must be thicker in arteries to withstand the high pressure of blood being pumped
from the heart
 Since the veins return blood to the heart under very low pressure, they need valves to prevent the
backflow of blood.
 Capillaries are very permeable (one cell thick) and gas and nutrient exchange occurs here
7) Match each vein in column A with the vein it drains into from column B. Place the letter of your choice in the
space.
Column A
Column B
A) anterior tibial vein
A_____1) popliteal vein
B) brachial vein
B____2) axillary vein
C) brachiocephalic vein
D____3) inferior vena cava
D) common iliac vein
E____4) subclavian vein
E) jugular vein
H___5) brachial vein
F) femoral vein
C____6) superior vena cava
G) popliteal vein
G_____7) femoral vein
H) radial vein
F_____8) iliac vein
8) Provide the name of the missing vein or veins in each of the following sequences:
• R axillary vein – R subclavian vein - superior vena cava
• posterior tibial vein - popliteal vein - femoral vein
• great saphenous vein - iliac vein- inferior vena cava
• liver (organ) - hepatic veins - inferior vena cava
• brachial vein - axillary vein - subclavian vein
• R jugular vein - R subclavian - R brachiocephalic vein
• kidney (organ) - renal veins - inferior vena cava