Common Hepatic Artery
The common hepatic artery (CA) is a branch of the small intestine which carries food from the stomach into the intestines. It originates at the stomach and ends near the duodenum. The CA is part of the ileocecal valve system, which allows food to pass through when swallowed.
The main function of the CA is to transport nutrients and water from the stomach into the small intestine. It also helps regulate the amount of gas produced in the stomach.
The CA passes through several organs including: pancreas, liver, gallbladder, biliary tract and kidneys. It also makes its way to other parts of the body such as lungs and skin. There are many different types of CA branching off from it.
They are the right, middle and left hepatic arteries. The middle hepatic artery splits into two smaller branches, one of which goes to the gallbladder.
The CA supplies blood to several organs in the body. Those it doesn’t supply include the stomach, intestines, spleen, pancreas, and back of the stomach. The CA also helps regulate blood flow to these organs and may control how much blood they receive.
The CA is also connected to other arteries that go to different organs.
The CA helps carry oxygen and nutrients from the liver, gallbladder and pancreas throughout the body. It also carries waste material away from these organs. The CA and the aorta are connected to each other through several blood vessels called the celiac trunk.
Blood may pass from one to the other by way of these vessels. Like the CA, the aorta also transports blood throughout the body.
Branching Arteries
The aorta is a large artery that branches off into several smaller arteries. The first of which is the brachiocephalic trunk, which further divides into the left and right common carotid arteries. Moving down from there are the left and right subclavian arteries, which serve as the blood source for different parts of the body.
For example, the left subclavian artery supplies blood to the arm while the right one serves the chest muscles.
The origins of these arteries are important when diagnosing blood flow problems. For example, if someone has a blood clot in one of these arteries, it could lead to ischemia in the part of the body it serves. This could cause pain, numbness or even tissue death if not treated.
The heart also has several arteries branching off of it. The pulmonary artery serves the lungs, the aorta serves the rest of the body and there are two others that serve the heart itself. When an individual has an issue with one of these arteries, surgery may be necessary.
Aneurysm repair is a common procedure that involves fixing a weakness in one of the heart’s arteries. There are several other types of aneurysms, some of which can be life-threatening if not treated right away.
Another type of artery is the iliac artery, which branches off of the aorta. Each leg has its own iliac artery, one of which is longer than the other. A common condition called unequal leg length may lead to an iliac aneurysm due to the uneven pressure placed on each artery.
Arterial Disease
Arteries may become thickened and hardened due to a buildup of fatty deposits. This process is known as arteriosclerosis. Arteries may also become damaged due to a buildup of plaque.
Some people are more likely to get arteriosclerosis than others. Obesity, smoking, highly processed food and a sedentary lifestyle may all increase a person’s risk of developing the condition.
Arteriosclerosis usually begins with changes in the inner lining of an artery. These changes are almost always invisible to the naked eye and don’t cause any symptoms for the individual. As more fatty deposits and plaque build up inside the artery, it becomes harder for blood to flow through it.
Over time, a person may experience chest pain or hypertension.
There are two main types of arteriosclerosis. One type mainly affects the kidneys, eyes and brain. This type is known as cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis or CVA.
The other type mainly affects the heart and blood vessels. This subtype is known as cardiovascular arteriosclerosis or CVD.
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