Integrated Vascular Anatomy

Abstract

The cardiovascular system and the lymphatics have important functions in health and disease. The heart and the blood vessels supply every single part of the body, e.g., with oxygenated blood, nutrients, and warmth, and they clear metabolites. The lymphatics are involved in fluid homeostasis and immune surveillance. Here, we give an outline of the normal pattern of the blood-vascular system of human fetuses and adults. Additionally, we describe the histological characteristics of the blood-vascular tree and the lymphatic networks. The systematic anatomy of the blood vessels is presented, starting with the pulmonary circulation and followed by the systemic circulation. The arterial and venous systems of the head, body wall, and limbs are illustrated, as well as those of all internal organs. For some selected cases, which we personally assumed to be of specific importance, we give reverence to the clinical relevance of arterial patterns and anastomoses.