largevessel

Largevessel is a term used in anatomy and medicine to describe the blood vessels with large luminal diameter, typically the major arteries and veins that transport blood between the heart and the rest of the body. In humans, examples include the aorta and its major branches (carotid, subclavian, iliac), the pulmonary trunk and pulmonary veins, and the superior and inferior venae cavae. Structurally, large vessels include elastic arteries near the heart that cushion pulsatile flow, muscular arteries that distribute flow, and large veins that return blood to the heart. The walls are composed of intima, media, and adventitia, with varying amounts of smooth muscle and elastic tissue depending on vessel type.

Physiology and function: Large vessels serve as conduits for blood, as pressure reservoirs, and as regulators of flow to peripheral beds. Elastic arteries store energy during systole, helping to maintain smoother downstream flow, while veins act as major capacitance vessels that accommodate varying blood volumes.

Clinical relevance: Disease affecting large vessels can significantly impact circulation. Atherosclerosis commonly involves large arteries, leading to aneurysm, stenosis, or dissection. Large-vessel vasculitis refers to inflammatory diseases primarily targeting the aorta and its major branches, notably giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Presentation ranges from constitutional symptoms to limb claudication or vision changes. Diagnosis relies on imaging such as ultrasound, CT angiography, or MR angiography, alongside laboratory markers. Treatment varies by condition: cardiovascular risk management and revascularization strategies for atherosclerotic disease; corticosteroids or immunosuppressants for LVV; and surgical or endovascular repair for aneurysms or dissections when indicated.

See also: large-vessel vasculitis.