Anatomy

[Viking1201]

I'm in the 2nd Anatomy and i dont understand how to trace a drop of blood from one part to another. Can someone explain it to me? I have a test in a week and i dont even know where to start and what veins and arteries it has to go through to get to a particular site in the body. Is there any websites that would be helpful if so please let me know.

[studentnurse2012]

I found it helpful to imagine it in my own body. Have you learnt the names of the arteries/veins???

If so, just imagine where it would have to go.

i.e if the blood is going from right side heart to right hand...it would have to go through the right side of heart, up pulmonary trunk, to the lungs for oxygen loading to take place, back down to enter the left side of the heart, and out the aorta, up the brachiocephalic trunk, across the shoulder in the subclavian artery, past the shoulder in the axillary artery, down the arm in the brachial artery, then through either the radial/ulnar arteries and into the superficial and deep palmar arteries.

It also depends on how many of the arteries/veins your school requires you to know...i know we only need to know about 3/4 of them.

As for helpful websites, try the site that accompanies your textbook...its usually listed in the first few pages, and they generally have good resources. The site that comes with my text is interactivephysiology.com and its incredible! Shows you everything...best part is all the pictures on slides which is great if your a visual learner...has online quizzes, study guides, games etc. i know you can buy access to the site if you dont have the textbook...and i would def recommend it if you need extra help. I think its $10/month

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

here are weblinks that discuss that. also, there are weblinks to anatomy and physiology help sites on post #45 of the pathophysiology/ a & p/ microbiology/ fluid & electrolyte resources sticky thread in the nursing student assistance forum: https://allnurses.com/forums/2422268-post45.html

• http://bme.usc.edu/bme403/section_3/anatomy_of_systemic_circulation.html - anatomy of the systemic circulation
  
  
• http://www.getbodysmart.com/ap/circulatorysystem/menu/menu.html - tutorials on circulation
  
• the ivy rose site (http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/revise/anatomy&physiology/index.php)
  • http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/topics/systemic_circulation.php- systemic circulation
    
  • http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/topics/heart_structure.htm - structure of the heart
    
  • http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/topics/heart_functions.htm - functions of the heart
    
  • http://www.ivy-rose.co.uk/topics/blood_vessels.htm - blood vessels

  [*]http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/biologypages/c/circulation.html - anatomy of the circulatory system

  [*]http://www.free-ed.net/sweethaven/science/biology/anatomyphysiol/human01_lessonmain.asp?inum=0708 - a short preview of human anatomy & physiology: circulatory pathways

  [*]http://www.barstow.edu/faculty/rstinson/human%20anatomy/vessels%20and%20circulation.pdf - vessels and circulation powerpoint lecture includes lots of anatomical drawings; this is a very large file to download

  [*]http://users.tamuk.edu/kfjab02/biology/biology%20ii/systems/b1313_ch36.htm -

  • pulmonary circuit
    • vena cavae þ right atrium tricuspid (av) valve þ right ventricle þ semilunar valve þ pulmonary arteries þ pulmonary capillaries þ pulmonary veins þ left atrium.

    [*]systemic circuit

    • left atrium þ bicuspid (av) valve þ left ventricle þ semilunar valve þ aorta þ coronary arteries, carotid subclavian, mesenteric, renal, iliac arteries, etc. þ arterioles þ capillaries þ veinules þ veins þ inferior & superior vena cavae þ right atrium.

    [*]control of heartbeat

    • autonomic nervous system controls heart rate, but heart muscles are self excitable; atricular or ventricular muscle mass contracts in unison.
      
    • pacemaker or sinoatrial node
      
    • atrioventricular (av) node

[maebe]

Great links Daytonite!

I find it easiest to take a deep breath and imagine where the path the oxygen takes and what's happening to it along the way. It's difficult to trace a path if you don't know where to start, for me the alveoli makes sense. Take it one piece at a time and go over it several times a day. You can't memorize it all at once.