Cardiovascular System: Blood Vessels Art-Labeling Activity
The big picture of systemic blood flow in the body. Drag the appropriate labels to their respective targets.
Capillary beds of the head, neck and face
Common carotid artery
Internal jugular vein
Hepatic portal vein
Capillary beds of the upper limb
External iliac artery and vein
Descending aorta
Inferior vena cava
Capillary beds of the liver and hepatic portal system branches
Capillary beds of the stomach, spleen, and intestines
Inferior mesenteric artery
Gastric and splenic veins
Hepatic vein
Capillary beds of the kidneys
Renal vein
Renal artery
Capillary beds of the lower limb
The correct answer and explanation is :
✅ Capillary beds of the head, neck and face — At the top near the brain/head region
✅ Common carotid artery — Artery running up to the head and neck
✅ Internal jugular vein — Vein draining blood from the head and neck
✅ Capillary beds of the upper limb — Branching off near the shoulder into the arm
✅ Descending aorta — Major artery running down the torso
✅ Capillary beds of the kidneys — Located mid-trunk at the kidneys
✅ Renal artery — Artery going into the kidneys
✅ Renal vein — Vein exiting from the kidneys
✅ Capillary beds of the stomach, spleen, and intestines — Clustered around the abdomen area
✅ Inferior mesenteric artery — Branching artery toward the lower intestines
✅ Gastric and splenic veins — Draining blood from the stomach and spleen
✅ Hepatic portal vein — Carrying blood to the liver from digestive organs
✅ Capillary beds of the liver and hepatic portal system branches — Inside the liver
✅ Hepatic vein — Exiting the liver and draining into the inferior vena cava
✅ Inferior vena cava — Large vein running alongside the descending aorta returning blood to the heart
✅ External iliac artery and vein — Branches leading to the lower limbs
✅ Capillary beds of the lower limb — Found within the legs and feet
300+ Word Explanation:
The systemic circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the body and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart. It starts with the left ventricle pumping blood into the ascending aorta, which then arches and gives off branches, including the common carotid artery that carries blood to the head, neck, and face. Here, oxygen is delivered to tissues through the capillary beds of the head, neck, and face, and deoxygenated blood returns via the internal jugular vein.
Similarly, arteries branch to supply the upper limbs, with blood reaching the capillary beds of the upper limb before returning through veins. Blood continues down the body through the descending aorta, supplying organs like the kidneys through the renal artery, where oxygen exchange happens in the capillary beds of the kidneys. Deoxygenated blood exits via the renal vein.
In the abdominal region, the inferior mesenteric artery supplies the large intestine. The digestive organs (stomach, intestines, spleen) have their own capillary beds, which drain into the gastric and splenic veins. These veins merge into the hepatic portal vein, a crucial vessel that brings nutrient-rich blood into the liver. Inside the liver, blood passes through capillary beds of the liver and hepatic portal system branches, allowing detoxification and processing before draining into the hepatic vein, and then into the inferior vena cava.
For the lower limbs, blood travels through the external iliac artery, moves through the capillary beds of the lower limb, and returns via matching veins, eventually flowing into the inferior vena cava.
This efficient circulation ensures all body tissues receive oxygen and nutrients and that waste products are efficiently removed.