Cardiovascular Anatomy Hub
A structured, exam-oriented pathway through heart anatomy and regional vessels.
Cardiovascular Anatomy Hub
Embryology
Development of the heart, great vessels, and fetal circulation essentials.
Heart Development – Looping, Septation & Defects
An overview of heart development, from the fusion of heart tubes and cardiac looping to the complex septation process that forms the four-chambered heart.
Aortic Arches – Development of Major Arteries
An overview of arterial development, detailing how the six pairs of pharyngeal arch arteries give rise to the major arteries of the head, neck, and thorax.
Venous Development – Vitelline, Umbilical & Cardinal Veins
An overview of venous system development from three paired veins (vitelline, umbilical, cardinal) and the complex remodeling that forms the IVC, SVC, and portal vein.
Fetal Circulation – Shunts & Postnatal Closure
An overview of fetal circulation, highlighting the three shunts (ductus venosus, foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus) that bypass the liver and lungs, and their closure at birth.
Fundamentals
Core vessel structure and the principles of blood flow and microcirculation.
Blood Circulation – Pulmonary, Systemic & Portal
An overview of the three major circulatory routes in the body: the pulmonary circulation for oxygenation, systemic for body supply, and portal for processing.
Arteries – Wall Structure, Types & Pulse Points
Explore the structure of arteries, from elastic to muscular types and arterioles. Learn about the three tunics and key sites for palpating the arterial pulse.
Veins – Structure, Valves & Venous Return
An overview of veins as capacitance vessels. Learn about their three-layered structure, venous valves, and the mechanisms aiding venous return to the heart.
Capillaries & Sinusoids – Types and Key Differences
Learn the difference between continuous and fenestrated capillaries and the large, irregular sinusoids found in organs like the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
Heart
Pericardium, chambers, valves, conduction, and neurovascular supply.
Pericardium – Layers, Cavity & Sinuses Explained
The pericardium is a fibroserous sac that encloses the heart. Learn about its fibrous and serous layers, the pericardial cavity, and its transverse and oblique sinuses.
Heart Anatomy – Chambers, Valves & Conduction System
The heart is a muscular pump with four chambers that drives the circulatory system. This overview covers its basic structure, valves, and electrical conduction pathway.
Heart Chambers – Right vs Left Atria and Ventricles
A detailed look at the four chambers of the heart. Explore the unique features of the right and left atria and the powerful right and left ventricles.
Heart Valves – Mitral, Tricuspid, Aortic & Pulmonary
Learn how the heart's four valves—mitral, tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary—ensure unidirectional blood flow and prevent regurgitation through the cardiac cycle.
Cardiac Conduction System – SA Node, AV Node & Purkinje
Explore the heart's electrical system, from the SA node (pacemaker) to the AV node and Purkinje fibers, which coordinates the rhythmic heartbeat.
All Arteries of Body
Key arterial pathways organized by anatomical region for fast revision.
Subclavian Artery – Parts, Course & Branches
An overview of the subclavian arteries, detailing their three parts relative to the scalenus anterior muscle and their major branches like the vertebral artery.
Common Carotid Artery – Course, Bifurcation & Pulse
An overview of the common carotid arteries, their course within the carotid sheath, their bifurcation, and the clinical importance of the carotid pulse at C6.
External Carotid Artery – 8 Branches & Supply
An overview of the external carotid artery and its eight branches (e.g., facial, lingual, superior thyroid) that supply extracranial structures of the head and neck.
Internal Carotid Artery – Parts & Brain Supply
An overview of the internal carotid artery, detailing its four parts (cervical, petrous, cavernous, cerebral) and its vital role in supplying the brain.
Internal Thoracic Artery – Branches & CABG Use
A major artery of the anterior chest wall, the internal thoracic artery is a key vessel used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) due to its durability.
All Veins of Body
Major venous drainage patterns organized by region with high-yield links.
Subclavian Vein – Course & Central Line Access
An overview of the subclavian vein, its course over the first rib, its tributaries, and its clinical use as a primary site for central venous catheterization.
Internal Jugular Vein – Course, Tributaries & Clinical Use
An overview of the internal jugular vein, the largest vein in the neck, detailing its course in the carotid sheath, its major tributaries, and its clinical role.
Superior Vena Cava (SVC) – Formation, Course & Tributaries
The SVC is a large vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the right atrium. Learn its formation, course, and major tributaries.
Azygos System – Azygos & Hemiazygos Veins Explained
The azygos system of veins drains the posterior walls of the thorax and abdomen, forming a crucial collateral pathway between the SVC and IVC.
Heart Venous Drainage – Coronary Sinus & Tributaries
Learn how venous blood is drained from the heart muscle, primarily through the coronary sinus and its tributaries, which empty into the right atrium.