Heart & blood vessels

The cardiovascular system is the heart together with the arteries, veins, and capillaries that circulate blood through every tissue of the body.

About heart & blood vessels

Gray's Anatomy (1918) describes the heart as a four-chambered muscular pump lying in the middle mediastinum, and traces the great vessels — aorta, venae cavae, pulmonary artery and veins — that carry blood to and from it.

Answers in this topic

Questions

What is the main artery called?
The largest artery in the body.
What is the superior vena cava?
A large vein that drains blood from the head, neck, arms, and upper chest.
What is the inferior vena cava?
The largest vein in the body.
What is the pulmonary artery?
A short, wide artery that carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
What are the pulmonary veins?
Four veins — two from each lung — that carry oxygenated blood back to the heart.

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Last verified: 2026-07-18

  • Best Anatomy Answers is an educational reference about human anatomy. It is not medical advice — for any health concern, talk to a licensed medical professional.

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