<P> A circulatory anastomosis is a connection (an anastomosis) between two blood vessels, such as between arteries (arterio - arterial anastomosis), between veins (veno - venous anastomosis) or between an artery and a vein (arterio - venous anastomosis). Anastomoses between arteries and between veins result in a multitude of arteries and veins, respectively, serving the same volume of tissue . Such anastomoses occur normally in the body in the circulatory system, serving as backup routes for blood to flow if one link is blocked or otherwise compromised, but may also occur pathologically . </P> <P> Arterio - arterial anastomoses include actual (e.g., palmar and plantar arches) and potential varieties (e.g., coronary arteries and cortical branch of cerebral arteries). </P>

Where do arterial anastomoses occur in the body