Great arteries

Great arteries are the two main arteries leaving the heart: the pulmonary artery and the aorta. They are called "great" because of their size and importance in the circulatory system. The term "great arteries" is most commonly used in the context of congenital heart disease.

Etymology

The term "great arteries" is derived from the Latin word "arteria", which means "windpipe". This is because the ancient Greeks believed that arteries were air-filled, rather than filled with blood.

Anatomy

The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. The aorta, the largest artery in the body, carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body.

Related Terms

• Artery: A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
• Ventricle (heart): The lower chambers of the heart that pump blood out of the heart.
• Pulmonary circulation: The portion of the circulatory system that carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart.
• Systemic circulation: The portion of the circulatory system that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart, to the body, and returns deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

Pathology

Abnormalities of the great arteries can lead to a variety of congenital heart diseases, including transposition of the great arteries, double outlet right ventricle, and persistent truncus arteriosus. These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, and cyanosis (bluish color of the skin and mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels in the blood).

Treatment

Treatment for abnormalities of the great arteries depends on the specific condition and its severity. It may include medication, surgery, or other interventions. For example, transposition of the great arteries is typically treated with a surgical procedure called an arterial switch operation.

See Also

• Heart
• Circulatory system
• Congenital heart disease

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