Aorta

Question 1

What are the branches of the celiac axis?

Answer 1

1- splenic artery
2- left gastric artery
3- hepatic artery

[diagram]

Question 2

What artery comes off the aorta at a 14* angle?

Answer 2

Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA)

[diagram]

Question 3

What vein is anterior to the aorta and posterior to the superior Mesenteric artery?

Answer 3

Left renal vein

[diagram]

Question 4

Are the renal veins superior or inferior to the renal arteries?

Answer 4

Superior

Question 5

Blood that is flowing towards the liver is called…what?

Answer 5

Hepatopedal

Question 6

Name the 4 traditional lobes of the liver

Answer 6

1- Right lobe (anterior and posterior)
2- Left lobe (lateral and medial)
3- Caudate (posterior aspect of the liver)
4- Quadrate (medial part of the left lobe)

[diagram]

Question 7

Name 3 risk factors for atherosclerotic disease.

Answer 7

1- increased cholesterol 
2- diabetes mellitus
3- cardiovascular disease 
4- smoking 
5- increased triglycerides 
6- precious myocardial infarction 
7- increased blood pressure

Question 8

Describe a true aneurysm.

Answer 8

All three layers of the vessel wall are thickened

[diagram]

Question 9

Describe a pseudo aneurysm

Answer 9

There is a hole(s) in the wall of the aorta.
Pseudo aneurysms usually are contained by the deeper layers of the vessel wall

[diagram]

Question 10

Name the 4 types of shapes of an aneurysm.

Answer 10

1- fusiform (aka spindle) *most common
2- dumbbell (aka figure 8)
3- bulbous (aka saccular)
4- dissection

Question 11

Where are aortic aneurysms most likely to occur?

Answer 11

Inferior to the renal artery branches

Question 12

Name 3 causes of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Answer 12

1- congenital defect
2- atherosclerosis
3- hypertension

Question 13

What are the chances of surviving a ruptured aorta from a trauma?

Answer 13

50% chance of survival.

Question 14

What are normal anterior/posterior measurements for the aorta from the heart down through the bifurcation of the iliacs?

Answer 14

3 cm (abdomen)
2 cm (at iliac bifurcation)
 1 cm (in the iliac arteries)

Question 15

Where are aortic dissections most likely to occur?

Answer 15

In the thoracic region.

Question 16

What is a dissecting aneurysm?

Answer 16

A tear occurs in the internal layer of the vessel resulting in blood flowing through a newly formed cavity between the two layers of the wall.
[diagram]

Question 17

What is Marfan’s disease?

Answer 17

A genetic disorder that is expressed in the skeleton. The patients are usually very tall and slender and commonly have aortic stenosis.

Question 18

What are the branches of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 18

1 - Celiac axis
2 - Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)
3 - Right and left renal arteries
4 - Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)
5 - Right and left common iliac arteries