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PRE-LAB EXERCISES
Open the Atlas app. From the Views menu, go to System Views and scroll down to Circulatory
System Views.
You are responsible for the identification of all bold terms.
A. Circulatory System Overview
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 1. Circulatory System. The skeletal system is
included in this view. Note that blood vessels travel throughout the entire body.
Heart
Vein
Artery
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1. Where would you find the blood vessels with the largest diameter?
2. Select a few vessels in the leg and read their names. The large blue-colored vessels are
_______________________________ and the large red-colored vessels are_______________________________.
3. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, deselect the skeletal system icon to remove the
skeletal system structures from the view. The largest arteries and veins are all connected to the
_______________________________.
4. Select the heart to highlight the pericardium. Use the Hide button in the content box to hide the
pericardium from the view and observe the heart muscle and the vasculature of the heart.
Brachiocephalic trunk
Pericardium
Pulmonary circulation
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a. What is the largest artery that supplies the heart?
b. What are the two large, blue-colored veins that enter the right side of the heart?
c. What is the large, red-colored artery that exits from the top of the heart?
5. Select any of the purple-colored branching vessels inside the rib cage and use the arrow in the
content box to find and choose Pulmonary circulation from the hierarchy list. This will highlight the
circulatory route that takes deoxygenated blood to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood back
to the heart. The largest of these vessels, the _______________________________, immediately branches into
the right and left _______________________________ as it leaves the heart.
6. Make sure the pericardium is still hidden, and then select the aorta. Use the arrow in the content
box to find and choose Great vessels from the hierarchy list. How many great vessels are there and
what are their names? Hint: You may have to move the view around and observe it from all angles to
see all the great vessels.
7. By definition, _______________________________ carry blood away from the heart and
_______________________________ carry blood to the heart. Hint: Select any vein, use the up-arrow in the
content box to find and choose Veins from the list, and use the book icon to read the definition. Do the
same for arteries.
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IN-LAB EXERCISES
Open the Atlas app. From the Views menu, go to System Views and scroll down to the Circulatory
System Views.
You are responsible for the identification of all bold terms and all answers to the questions.
A. Vasculature of the Brain and the Circle of Willis
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 3. Vasculature of the Brain. Use this view to
answer the following questions.
Cavernous sinus
Brachiocephalic trunk
Subclavian artery
Internal jugular
Vertebral artery
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1. Which three arteries branch from the aorta to supply the head?
2. The brachiocephalic trunk branches into the _______________________________ and
_______________________________ arteries.
3. Branches of the subclavian arteries travel through foramina in the transverse arches of the cervical
vertebrae on their way to the head. What are these branches called?
a. Follow one of the vertebral arteries to the point where it enters the skull. Rotate the view to
observe it from the side and select the skeletal system icon in the system tray on the left side
of the screen to show the whole skeletal system in the view. Note the sharp curves made by the
vertebral artery as it leaves the axis and enters the skull. This is of clinical significance because
this region of the artery is easily torn during overstretching, manipulation, or trauma.
Superior
sagittal sinus
Superficial middle
cerebral vein
Superior anastomotic
vein (of Trolard)
Sigmoid sinus
Transverse sinus
Superior
cerebral vein
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4. Refresh the view and rotate it to observe the superior portion of the brain. What is the unpaired,
large vessel that drains blood from the brain?
a. Where is this chamber located?
b. Dural sinuses are channels between the layers of the dura mater that contain venous blood.
They are larger in diameter than regular veins and are often referred to as chambers.
5. Locate one of the superior anastomotic veins (of Trolard). Anastomoses are connected vessels
that form a network, providing alternate blood supply routes. These veins lie between which two lobes
of the brain?
6. Select any of the veins that parallel the superior anastomotic veins. This group of veins is called
________________________________. The regions of the brain that are drained by these veins are the
_______________________________.
7. The superior anastomotic veins and the superior cerebral veins join to form the superficial
middle cerebral vein and the _______________________________, which drain into the
_______________________________.
8. Posteriorly, the transverse sinuses and the superior sagittal sinus meet at the
_______________________________, which drains into the _______________________________, which in turn drains
into the _______________________________.
9. The sigmoid sinuses are located near the posterior lobes of the _______________________________.
10. Rotate the view to observe the anterior structures. Locate the large, paired cavernous sinuses.
They receive blood from the ophthalmic region. Blood from the cavernous sinuses travels through two
petrosal sinuses and the sigmoid sinus to drain into the _______________________________. In the system
tray on the left side of the screen, select and deselect the skeletal system icon to add and remove the
skeletal system structures from the view and observe where the internal jugular veins leave the skull
and enter the neck.
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Go back to the Circulatory System Views and select View 4. Circle of Willis. Use this view to answer
the following questions.
1. Locate the common carotid arteries. Branches of these arteries, the _______________________________,
travel through the neck and enter the skull.
2. Rotate the view to observe the network of arteries on the inferior side of the brain. The circle formed
by anastomosing arteries at the base of the brain is the _______________________________.
3. The vertebral arteries join to form the _______________________________, which sends off several small
branches, called _______________________________, to the pons. The anterior inferior cerebellar arteries,
which branch from the _______________________________, and the posterior inferior cerebellar arteries,
which branch from the_______________________________, supply the _______________________________.
4. Each internal carotid artery ends by forming several branches, the largest of which is the
_______________________________. Other branches travel inferior to the frontal lobes to supply the eyes.
These are the _______________________________.
Posterior
communicating artery
Common carotid
Internal carotid
Posterior cerebral artery
Middle cerebral artery
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5. The anterior portion of the circle of Willis is formed by the _______________________________, which
travels between the right and left frontal lobes. These paired arteries are joined at the anterior-most
part of the circle of Willis by the _______________________________. Locate the posterior communicating
artery, which joins the posterior cerebral artery to the middle cerebral artery.
6. Rotate the view to observe the many collateral routes formed by the circle of Willis.
a. What prominent landmark of the nervous system is enclosed by the circle of Willis?
b. Which endocrine system landmark is enclosed by the circle of Willis?
7. Rotate the view to observe the superior surface of the brain. Branches from the circle of
Willis supply the entire brain. Two pairs of large arteries, the _______________________________ and
_______________________________ arteries, travel in the longitudinal fissure between the two hemispheres.
From these two pairs of arteries, several sets of arteries travel laterally across the brain to join the
middle _____________________________. Their branches supply the cerebrum.
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B. Carotid and Jugular Vessels
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 5. Carotid and Jugular. Use this view to
answer the following questions.
1. Locate the two large internal jugular veins that leave the skull and travel down the neck. Each one
exits the skull through a space between the temporal and occipital bones called the
________________________________.
2. External to the skull, the posterior portion of the scalp is drained by the paired
_______________________________.
3. The sides of the scalp are drained by the _______________________________, which pass over the
temporal bones in front of the ears, and the _______________________________, which pass behind the ears.
These veins join to form the retromandibular vein.
4. The occipital veins and branches of the retromandibular vein join to travel down the outside of the
neck as the _______________________________.
Retromandibular vein
Internal jugular vein
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5. The external jugular veins drain into the _______________________________ and the internal jugular
veins drain into the _________________________________________________.
6. Locate the veins that travel with the vertebral arteries through the transverse foramina of the
cervical vertebrae. These are the _______________________________.
C. Pulmonary and Azygos Circulation
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 6. Pulmonary. Use this view to answer the
following questions.
1. Select any of the purple-colored branching vessels, use the arrow in the content box to find and
choose Pulmonary circulation from the list, and use the book icon to read the definition. Pulmonary
circulation travels between the _______________________________ and the _______________________________.
2. Rotate the view to observe the great vessel that leaves the heart and splits into two branches,
one for each lung. Before it branches, this vessel is called the _______________________________, and its
branches are called _______________________________.
Superior vena cava
Heart valves
Pulmonary trunk
Left atrium
Pulmonary artery
Pulmonary vein
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3. While viewing the posterior side of the heart, select the large surface of the lower heart to highlight
the sternocostal surface. Use the Hide button in the content box to hide this surface and rotate the
view to observe the opening to the pulmonary trunk.
a. Which heart chamber pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk?
b. Which valve controls backflow of blood from the pulmonary trunk into the heart?
4. Once inside the lungs, these arteries split into increasingly smaller branches that eventually reach
the pulmonary capillary beds, which wrap around the alveoli of the lungs. This is the site of
_______________________________.
5. The pulmonary arteries are unique because they are the only arteries that carry
_______________________________. Therefore, they are colored purple, not red, in the view.
6. Why are the pulmonary veins colored a dark shade of purple, instead of blue like the superior
vena cava, in this view?
7. Select the left lung and use the Hide button in the content box to hide it. If you want to hide the
trachea and bronchi as well, deselect the respiratory system icon in the system tray on the left side of
the screen to remove these structures from the view. Rotate the view to observe it from the back and
locate the four veins, two on each side, that return blood from the lungs to the heart.
a. What are the upper veins called?
b. What are the lower veins called?
c. Which heart chamber collects blood from all four of these veins?
TIME TO PRACTICE!
GO TO THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM QUIZZES AND TAKE QUIZ 1 HEAD AND NECK, QUIZ 11 HEAD AND
NECK, QUIZ 2 CIRCLE OF WILLIS, AND QUIZ 20 PULMONARY CIRCULATION .
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Go back to the Circulatory System Views and select View 8. Azygos System. Use this view to
answer the following questions.
1. Locate the unpaired azygos vein running parallel to the inner surface of the spinal column. Pairs of
_______________________________ extend from the azygos vein, following the ribs to the front of the chest.
2. Anteriorly, these parallel veins connect to the left and right _______________________________, which run
up and down the front of the chest.
Azygos vein
Intercostal
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D. Liver and Lower Digestive System Circulation
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 10. Liver Circulation. Use this view to answer
the following questions.
Liver
Proper hepatic
artery branch
Common
hepatic artery
Spleen
Liver
Proper hepatic
artery
Decending aorta
Hepatic portal vein
Hepatic veins
Inferior vena cava
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1. Locate the common hepatic artery as it branches from the abdominal aorta. This artery and its
branches supply six organs. What are they?
2. Select the spleen and use the Hide button in the content box to hide it. Rotate the view to observe
the arteries that enter the inferior side of the liver. The common hepatic artery branch that supplies
the liver is the _______________________________. This artery terminates in left and right branches that
enter the liver, supplying it with freshly oxygenated blood.
3. Rotate the view to observe the veins that enter the liver from below. Locate the large vein that enters
the liver next to the proper hepatic artery branches. This vein is the _______________________________.
a. The hepatic portal vein delivers oxygen-depleted blood, which carries food absorbed by the
small intestine that will be processed by the liver before entering the heart. Which organs are
drained by this vein?
4. Portal veins are vessels that carry blood from one set of capillary beds—in this case, from the
digestive system—and deliver it to another set of capillary beds—in this case, to the liver—without
passing through the heart first. As the hepatic portal vein enters the liver, it branches into small,
permeable, capillary-like vessels called ________________________________. Products of digestion that are
absorbed by the intestines enter the liver through these permeable vessels. Other products, such as
materials reabsorbed from the colon and the products of red blood cell recycling from the spleen, also
enter the liver for processing.
5. Select the (VII) right posterolateral segment of the liver and use the Hide button in the content box
to hide it and observe the paired veins that drain the liver. These are the _______________________________,
which empty into the _______________________________.
TIME TO PRACTICE!
GO TO THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM QUIZZES AND TAKE QUIZ 12 VENOUS SINUSES, QUIZ 4 THORAX,
QUIZ 5 ABDOMEN I, QUIZ 6 ABDOMEN II, QUIZ 14 THORAX, AND QUIZ 15 ABDOMEN.
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Go back to the Circulatory System Views and select View 11. Lower Digestive. Use this view to
answer the following questions.
1. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, deselect the skeletal system icon to remove the
skeletal structures from the view and rotate the view to observe the back of the intestines. Note the
network of vessels that supply the intestines. Rotate the view to observe it from the front, and then
select and hide the jejunum and ileum. Locate the multiple loops of paired arteries and veins on the
left side, near the descending colon. The looping arteries are the _______________________________ of the
unpaired, straight _______________________________, which extends along the front of the abdomen.
a. List the organs that receive blood from these arteries.
Superior mesenteric vein
Celiac trunk
Superior mesenteric artery
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b. Paired with these arteries are the looping _______________________________ of the
_______________________________.
2. The superior mesenteric artery branches from the ___________________ just below the celiac trunk.
3. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, deselect the digestive system icon to remove the
digestive structures from the view, and then highlight the superior mesenteric vein and follow its
path upward. At the level of the kidneys, it becomes the _______________________________. Now, you can
follow the routes of materials that are absorbed by the small intestines and delivered to the liver.
Refresh the view to see everything in place and follow the route of the hepatic portal system past the
digestive organs.
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E. Pelvic Circulation
In the Circulatory System Views section, select View 12. Pelvic Circulation. Use this view to answer
the following questions.
Descending aorta
Gonadal vein
Posterior trunk of the
internal iliac artery
Anterior trunk of
the iliac artery
External iliac arteries
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1. Locate the descending aorta where it branches into the left and right
_______________________________ at the top of the pelvis. In turn, these arteries branch into the
_______________________________, which continue through the pelvis past the ilium, and the
_______________________________ which travel into the pelvis near the sacrum.
2. The external iliac arteries continue into the legs as the _______________________________.
3. Name the two branches of the internal iliac arteries and list the tissues each branch supplies.
External iliac arteries
Bladder
Deep dorsal vein
Superficial dorsal vein
Descending aorta
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4. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, deselect the urinary and digestive system icons to
remove the urinary and digestive structures from the view. Locate the left or right anterior trunk of
the internal iliac artery. Locate and name the seven branches of this trunk (in males).
a. Which branch of the anterior trunk travels along the interior face of the ilium and passes
through the pelvic inlet?
b. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, select the urinary system icon to show the
urinary structures in the view. Which artery supplies the bladder?
c. In males, which artery supplies the penis?
5. Use the gender toggle at the top of the screen, next to the search bar, to switch to the female
version of the view. Then, in the system tray on the left side of the screen, deselect the skeletal system
icon to hide the skeletal structures from the view and rotate the view to observe the back of the uterus.
What is the name of the artery that supplies most of the uterus via its branches?
a. This artery is a branch of the ___________________________________________________.
6. The _______________________________ branch of the uterine artery supplies the ovaries (in females).
7. Locate the left or right posterior trunk of the internal iliac artery. Locate and name the two main
branches of this trunk.
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8. Which plexus drains each of the following organs.
a. The ovaries: _______________________________
b. The uterus: _______________________________
c. The bladder: _______________________________
9. Fill-in the blanks to complete the following statements.
a. The vesical venous plexus drains into the _______________________________.
b. The ovarian venous plexus drains into the _______________________________.
c. The uterine venous plexus drains into the _______________________________, traveling upward on
either side of the pelvis.
d. The uterine veins and __superior vesical veins__ drain into the anterior trunks of the
_______________________________.
e. The gonadal vein travels high into the abdomen before entering the
_______________________________.
10. Draining the lower extremities, the large _______________________________ become the
_______________________________ at the inguinal ligament.
11. At the brim of the pelvis, the _______________________________ unite with the
_______________________________ to form the ______________________________.
12. Use the gender toggle at the top of the screen, next to the search bar, to switch back to the male
version of the view. The _______________________________ drains the skin of the penis, becomes the
________________________________, and eventually enters the pudendal plexus.
13. Select the penis to highlight the Dartos fascia and use the Hide button in the content box to hide
it. Next, select one of the testicles to highlight the spermatic fascia and use the Hide button to hide it.
Note the plexus of veins that drains the testis. Follow this plexus as it travels up toward the pelvis, and
as it nears the bladder, observe how the veins unite to form the ________________________________________.
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a. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, select the skeletal system icon to show the
skeletal structures in the view. Note how these veins travel along the pelvis and enter the pelvic
cavity.
b. In the system tray on the left side of the screen, select the muscular system icon to show the
muscles in the view. Note how these veins, along with accompanying arteries and nerves, travel
from the external testes into the pelvis, between the pelvic muscles.
TIME TO PRACTICE!
GO TO THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM QUIZZES AND TAKE QUIZ 7 INTESTINES,
QUIZ 16 INTESTINES, AND QUIZ 17 PELVIS.
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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
1. The largest artery in the body is the ________________________________ and the largest veins are the
_______________________________.
2. What is the definition of a vein?
3. Which are the only arteries that carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart?
4. List the structures of the heart through which blood passes, starting with the venae cavae and
ending with the aorta.
5. What is a portal system?
6. What is the role of the hepatic portal system?
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 1. Circulatory System (I)
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 1. Circulatory System (II)
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 3. Vasculature of the Brain (I)
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 3. Vasculature of the Brain (II)
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 4. Circle of Willis
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 5. Carotid and Jugular
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 6. Pulmonary
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 8. Azygos System
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 10. Liver Circulation
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 10. Liver Circulation
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 11. Lower Digestive
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 12. Pelvic Circulation (Female)
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Source: Circulatory System Views: View 12. Pelvic Circulation (Male)