Cat Arteries

NOTE: Although not a complete list of all the arteries of the cat, these are the major arteries that you should be able to identify. For the vessels listed, “a.” indicates an unpaired artery; “aa.” indicates a pair of arteries. In addition, to view and print off online color digital photos of the vessels of cats from IVCC’s Biology lab, go to: http://www.ivcc.edu/caley/108/Lab_Images/catvessels.html.

I. Structures associated with the heart

A. Left and right auricles (atria)

B. Pulmonary trunk (artery)

C. Coronary aa. (in general)

D. Aortic arch

II. Branches of the aortic arch

A. Brachiocephalic (innominate) a.

B. Left subclavian a.

III. Branches of the brachiocephalic (innominate) a.

A. Right common carotid a.

B. Left common carotid a.

C. Right subclavian a.

IV. Branches of the subclavian aa.

A. Internal mammary (thoracic) aa. - serve the anterior thoracic wall, mammary glands, pectoral muscles, and thymus gland

B. Vertebral aa. – travels through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae

V. The axillary aa. are continuations of the subclavian aa., passing through the thoracic cavity wall and into the axillary space. Branches of the axillary aa. include:

A. Long thoracic aa. – travels caudally; serves the pectoral regions and latissimus dorsi

B. Subscapular aa. - serve the shoulder regions

C. Brachial aa. - continuations of the axillary aa. into the brachial region

VI. Thoracic aorta - the portion of the descending aorta located in the thoracic cavity

A. Intercostal aa.

VII. Abdominal aorta - the portion of the descending aorta that is in the abdominal cavity

A. Celiac trunk (celiac a.) - the most anterior branch of the abdominal aorta. The celiac artery has three branches

1. hepatic a. - serves the liver

2. left gastric a. - supplies blood to the stomach

3. splenic a. – largest of the three branches; serves the spleen

B. Superior (anterior) mesenteric a. – serves small intestine and portions of the large intestine

C. Adrenal (adrenolumbar) aa. - serves the adrenal glands and lumbar musculature

D. Renal aa.

E. Gonadal aa. include: spermatic (testicular) aa. in male cats, or ovarian aa. in female cats

F. Inferior (posterior) mesenteric a. – serves last part of large intestine and rectum

G. Iliolumbar aa. – lie in the transverse plane

VIII. Branches of the abdominal aorta that serve the pelvic cavity, gluteal region, and hind limbs

A. External iliac aa.

B. Internal iliac aa.

C. Femoral aa.

*Note:  Unlike humans, most cats do not have common iliac arteries.

Last Updated 12/31/06

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