Development of Vascular system

Arterial system

Aortic arches

During the 4th week, the pharyngeal arches appear in head and neck region, as columns of Mesenchymal condensations. In human embryo there are five arches, numbered: I, II, III, IV, and VI. Each of these receives an arterial arch, they form the aortic arches. Aortic arches arise from both sides the aortic sac at the cephalic end of truncus arteriosus. Aortic arches ascend up dorsally and terminate in the right and left dorsal aortae

Fate of the arches

The first arch disappears ( by day 27). A small part persists to form the maxillary artery. The second arch disappears by day 29, leaving small portion that form the hyoid and stapedial arteries. During this time the 3rd, 4th, and 6th arches are large. The truncus arteriosus divides forming aorta and pulmonary trunk, and also the aortic sac, so that the 6th arches are now continuous with pulmonary trunk.

The 3rd arch: forms the common carotid artery and the first part of internal carotid artery, the remainder of internal carotid artery is formed by the cranial portion of the dorsal aorta. External carotid artery arises as a new growth from the 3rd arch. The dorsal aorta segment between the 3rd arch and 4th arch, wich is known as carotid canal, disappears.

The 4th arch: persist in both sides. The left 4th arch forms part of the arch of aorta, between the left common carotid and left subclavian artery The right 4th arch, forms most of the right subclavian artery. The distal part of the R subclavian is formed by part of dorsal aorta and the 7th intersegmental artery. The right dorsal aorta disappears between the 7th intersegmental artery and the junction with the left dorsal aorta.

The 6th arch (pulmonary arch), is continuous with pulmonary trunk, and gives rise on each side to pulmonary artery. On right side the part between the origin of pulmonary artery and the dorsal aorta disappears early. On left side the equivalent part persists as ductus arteriosus, wich will be obliterated after birth forming ligamentum arteriosum.

Different course of recurrent Laryngeal nerves

Originally the recurrent laryngeal nerve in both sides, hook around the 6th arch. On the right side the distal part of the arch disappears, the recurrent laryngeal nerve moves up and hooks around the right subclavian artery. On the left side the nerve does not move up, since the distal part of 6th aortic arch persists as the ductus arteriosus, which later forms the ligamentum arteriosum.

Congenital abnormalities
Double aortic arch Right aortic arch Coarctation of aorta Interruption of aortic arch Abnormal origin of right subclavian artery Patent ductus arteriosus.

Venous system

Vitelline veins or omphalomesenteric veins Umbilical veins Cardinal veins

Vitelline veins

These are right and left After development of the liver, the break down into hepatic sinusoids The blood from the left side is rechanneled to the right side, after reduction of the left sinus horn, the right vitelline vein is enlarged and become the right hepatocardiac channel. The proximal part of the left vitelline vein disappears Distally the right and left vitelline veins anastomose around the duodenum, and eventually form the superior mesenteric vein.

Umbilical veins

The proximal parts of both right and left umbilical veins disappear. The remainder of the right umbilical vein disappears. The left umbilical vein becomes connected to the liver sinusoids, but a direct communication between the left umbilical vein and the right hepatocardiac channel is established, that is ductus venosus, which is obliterated after birth and form ligamentum venosum,

Cardinal veins

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There are 4 systems of cardinal veins: Anterior and posterior cardinal vs, that are united to form common cardinal on each side Subcardinal veins, appear during 5th to 7th week, mainly drain the kidneys Sacrocardinals, which drain the lower extremities Supra cardinal veins, which drain the body walls and intercostal spaces.

Anastomosis and shifting of blood to the right

Anastomosis between the anterior cardinal veins, forming the left brachiocephalic vein, The communication with left common cardinal is obliterated. Superior vena cava is formed in the right side by right common cardinal and proximal potion of right anterior cardinal.

Subcardinals

The anastomosis between right and left subcardinals, form the left renal vein The left subcardinal vein disappears. Gonadal vein may consider as a remaining part or a branch of subcardinal vein Right subcardinal vein, enlarges and forms the renal segment of inferior vena cava.

Sacrocardinals
The right sacrocardinal vein forms the sacrocardinal segment of inferior vena cava. The anastomosis between left and right Sacrocardinals forma the left common iliac vein.

Suprcardinal veins
On the right side form with apart of posterior cardinal vein, the Azygos vein On the left side Hemiazygos vein.

Inferior vena cava

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It is formed by union of: Hepatocardiac channel Renal segment ( right subcardinal segment) Sacrocardinal segment

Congenital abnormalities
Double inferior vena cava Absence of inferior vena cava Left superior vena cava Double superior vena cava

Fetal circulation

Circulation after birth