Objective 31 & 32: Aorta and the Vena Cavas

Objective 31: Locate major arteries brancing off the aorta and regions of the body they supply blood to
Objective 32: Identify the major veins draining into the superior and inferior vena cavae


When I was trying to figure out these two objectives about the aorta and vena cavae, the end of chapter 18 was a HUGE help. It couldn't have been put any simpler. From pages 632-643, the textbook discussed the aorta and all the major arteries of the systemic circulation. This portion not only briefly discusses the major arteries, but it provides charts of where they all are in the body. The two charts that were most beneficial to me in understanding objetive 31 was the schematic flowchart on page 632 and the body's anterior view of the major arteries of the systemic circulation. Personally, I think the body's anterior view of all the major veins in the body was more helpful than the flow chart because I am able to see where certain veins are in relation to one another. I don't have to visualize where they may be located, I can actually see where they are and what portion of the body they reside in. The flowchart is still helpful though, because the diagram uses arrows to show where the arteries branch off at and share what part of body they supply blood to. On pages 644-652, the textbook starts to talk about the venae cavae and the major veins of the systemic circulation. This section also provides charts that show different regions of the body and the main veins that it houses. The pictures that aided me in understading the major veins draining into the superior and inferior vena cavae because it also provided not only the body's anterior view of the veins, but it also gave a schematic flowchart of the major veins. Along with these two charts, the book provides a description of the superior and inferior vena cavae and talks about the veins that drain into them. I overlooked this section at first because I didn't view it as important, but now i'm glad that it was included because it was beneficial. The visuals helped me see where the veins are in relation to the rest of the body and the flow chart helped me to see what veins actually drained into the vena cavaes.