9. Abdominal Blood Vessels and Nerves (Carter) Flashcards
At what vertebral level does the aorta bifurcate into the common iliac arteries?
L4
What plexus do the pelvic splanchnic nerves travel through?
The inferior hypogastric plexus.
What are the paired visceral arteries that branch from the aorta, and at what vertebral levels do they branch?
Suprarenal (L1).
Renal (L1/L2).
Gonadal (L2).
What do we see clinically if retrograde portal vein blood uses the left gastric artery to return to systemic circulation?
Esophageal varices.
What are the borders of the cystohepatic triangle (triangle of Calot)?
The common hepatic duct (medial).
The cystic duct (lateral).
Inferior border of the liver (superior).
At what point does pain travel with the parasympathetics?
Below the pelvic pain line, where the visceral afferents travel with the pelvic splanchnic nerve.
By definition, what separates internal and external hemorrhoids?
The pectinate line.
How does the vagus nerve enter the abdominal cavity?
It follows the esophagus as the anterior and posterior vagal trunks, and enters through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.
Where are the esophageal varices located, histologically speaking?
In the submucosa of the esophagus.
What is the primary function of sympathetic innervation to the abdomen?
Vasoconstriction and inhibition of peristalsis.
What are the 2 less common configurations for the 3 veins that make up the portal vein?
- The inferior mesenteric vein attaches to the superior mesenteric vein. The superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein come together to form the portal vein.
- The inferior mesenteric vein, superior mesenteric vein, and splenic vein, all come together to form the portal vein.
What is innervated by the pelvic splanchnic nerves?
The colon and rectum from the splenic flexure to the pectinate line.
(More specifically, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, anal canal, urogenital organs of the pelvic cavity, and the structures in the urogenital triangle of the perineum).
What do we see clinically if retrograde circulation from the portal vein opens the umbilical vein to return to systemic circulation?
Caput medusae.
What is the basic path for an abdominal sympathetic nerve from the spinal cord to organ?
Starts at the intermediolateral cell column, passes out the ventral horn and the anterior ramus, goes through the white ramus, and then through the paravertebral ganglia without synapsing. They then continue as the abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves (still presynaptic) and synapse at the prevertebral sympathetic ganglia. They then follow the periarterial plexuses to their target organ.
What structure serves as an anastomosis between the arteries of the midgut and hindgut?
The marginal artery of Drummond.
What is of the name for the opening of the diaphragm through which the inferior vena cava passes?
At what vertebral level is it located?
The caval opening of the diaphragm.
T8
What are the unpaired visceral arteries that branch from the aorta, and at what vertebral levels do they branch?
Celiac (T12).
Superior mesenteric (L1).
Inferior mesenteric (L3).
What are the 4 sympathetic splanchnic nerves innovating the abdomen, and at what vertebral levels do they exit?
Greater splanchnic: T5-T9.
Lesser splanchnic: T10-T11.
Least splanchnic: T12.
Lumbar splanchnic: L1-L2
Where do the right lumbar veins converge and drain?
Into the azygos vein.
Where is a “replaced” right hepatic artery likely to originate?
Superior Mesenteric Artery
What is the significance of the cystohepatic triangle?
In the majority of the population, it is the location of the cystic artery.