16 Lower Limb Vasculature

Question 1

where does the thoracic aorta start and end?

Answer 1

sternal angle of Louis

Vertebral T12 (aortic hiatus in diaphragm)

Question 2

What perforates the diaphragm at
T8
T10
T12?

Answer 2

T8 - vena cava
T10 - oesophagus
T12 - thoracic aorta

Question 3

Where is the angle of Louis?

Answer 3

manubriosternal joint, start of left and right bronchi

Question 4

Where does the abdominal aorta start and end?

Answer 4

T12

L3/4 intevertebral disc

Question 5

What are the 2 phases of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 5

suprarenal

infrarenal

Question 6

Where do the renal arteries branch off the abdominal aorta?

What is different about their paths?

Answer 6

L1-L2

The right renal artery goes behind the IVC

Question 7

Where does the suprarenal aorta start?

Answer 7

branching of the superior mesenteric artery

Question 8

What marks the boundary between the external iliac artery and the common femoral artery?

Answer 8

lower border of the inguinal ligament

Question 9

Inferior to the knee, what does the popliteal artery branch into?

Answer 9

anterior tibial artery

tibia-peroneal trunk into peroneal and posterior tibial arteries

Question 10

Where does the common iliac artery become the external iliac artery?
What else does it contribute to, and where does it go?

Answer 10

L5-S1

Internal iliac artery, which goes into the superior sciatic foramen

Question 11

Where does the femoral artery end?

Answer 11

apex of the femoral triangle, but entering the adductor canal

Question 12

What muscle does the adductor canal perforate?

What does the femoral artery become in the adductor canal?

Answer 12

adductor magnus

popliteal artery

Question 13

Where is the femoral pulse palpated?

Answer 13

mid-inguinal line

Question 14

Where does the popliteal artery end?

Answer 14

adductor hiatus

Question 15

What does the popliteal artery do in the popliteal fossa?

Answer 15

branches to give geniculate branches to supply the knee joint

Question 16

What does the popliteal artery bifurcate into at the adductor hiatus?

Answer 16

anterior tibial artery

posterior tibial artery

Question 17

Where would the anterior tibial pulse be palpated?

Answer 17

above navicular

medial to tendon of extensor hallucis longus

Question 18

Where does the posterior tibial artery pass in relation to the medial malleolus?

Answer 18

posteriorly

Question 19

What happens to the posterior tibial artery below the ankle?

Answer 19

branches into

medial and lateral plantar arteries

Question 20

Where would the posterior tibial artery be palpated?

Answer 20

near the medial malleolus

Question 21

What are the 4 classes of veins?

Answer 21

superficial
deep
perforating
accompanying

Question 22

What is the main large vein running up the medial aspect of the leg and thigh?
Where will it have the most valves?

Answer 22

great saphenous

lower leg than thigh

Question 23

What is the difference between vaso vasorum and venae commitante?

Answer 23

vasorum - accompany veins

commitante - accompany arteries

Question 24

What lies behind Psoas Major?

Answer 24

the lumbar plexus

Question 25

What 4 nerves emerge lateral to the psoas?

Answer 25

femoral
iliohypogastric
ilioinguinal
lateral cutaneous (thigh)

Question 26

Which 2 nerves emerge medial to the psoas?

Answer 26

obturator

lumbosacral

Question 27

What are the roots of the lumbosacral trunk?

Answer 27

upper 4th and 5th lumbar ventral ramii

Question 28

What does the sciatic nerve bifurcate into superior to the posterior knee?

Answer 28

common peroneal nerve

tibial nerve

Question 29

What does the common peroneal nerve branch into?

Answer 29

deep and superficial peroneal nerves

Question 30

What abnormality is associated with the sciatic nerve?

Answer 30

piriformis syndrome, sciatic nerve can pass through the piriformis muscle rather than inferior to it, causing sciatica

Question 31

What are the 4 layers to generic blood vessels?

Answer 31

endothelium
Tunica intima
Tunica media
Tunica externa

Question 32

Which artery slips under the aortic arch?

Answer 32

transverse pulmonary artery

Question 33

Where does the aorta formally end?

Answer 33

Bifurcation into left and right common iliac arteries

Question 34

Which spinal nerves contribute to the lumbar plexus?

Answer 34

L1-L4

Question 35

Which spinal nerves contribute to the Sacral plexus?

Answer 35

L4-S4

Question 36

What structure does the sciatic nerve emerge from the pelvis through?

What accompanies it?

Answer 36

Greater Sciatic Foramin

inferior gluteal artery
inferior gluteal nerve