Great vessels
The great vessels are those that transport blood to and from the heart. They are the superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, pulmonary arteries (pulmonary trunk), pulmonary veins and the aorta.
The college expect candidates know the aortic and pulmonary trunk origins.
They both originate at the level of the lower border of the 3rd costal cartilage retrosternally. The pulmonary trunk lies anterior and to the left and aorta posterior to the right.
Moving superiorly the pulmonary trunk crosses the ascending aorta anteriorly. The pulmonary trunk then divides into left and right pulmonary arteries with the right pulmonary artery passing posterior to the ascending aorta beneath the arch.
They are both contained within pericardium.
Diagram illustrating The pulmonary trunk and aorta
The college expect candidates know the aortic and pulmonary trunk origins.
They both originate at the level of the lower border of the 3rd costal cartilage retrosternally. The pulmonary trunk lies anterior and to the left and aorta posterior to the right.
Moving superiorly the pulmonary trunk crosses the ascending aorta anteriorly. The pulmonary trunk then divides into left and right pulmonary arteries with the right pulmonary artery passing posterior to the ascending aorta beneath the arch.
They are both contained within pericardium.
Diagram illustrating The pulmonary trunk and aorta
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