Tag: circulatory

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Heart – Systole and Diastole

During the cardiac cycle, two contractions occur.  Systole occurs when the muscles contract and diastole occurs when the muscles relax.   Atrial systole occurs when the atria contract and push blood into the lower ventricles.  During this point, the aortic valve is closed.   Ventricular contraction then occurs …

Iliolumbar Artery

The iliolumbar arteries are named for their location, supplying blood to the lumbar region of the back and the ilium of the  of the pelvis.  They branch from the abdominal aorta just above where it splits into the external and internal iliac arteries.

Inferior Vena Cava with Renal Vein

This image shows the inferior vena cava where it branches to the renal vein leading to the kidney.   The vessels appear blue because the cat has been injected with blue latex.

Heart – Pulmonary Trunk

The green pin in this heart indicates the pulmonary trunk which will split into the left and right pulmonary arteries.   It is the most anterior vessel of the heart and carries blood from the heart to the lungs where blood becomes oxygenated and returns back to the …

Cat Vessels, Lower Body

This video traces the abdominal aorta to show where it branches to the celiac trunk, the superior mesenteric, renal arteries and inferior mesenteric.   The inferior vena cava is also shown with the renal vein branches.  Finally, the abdominal aorta splits to travel into the legs at the …