Blood supply of the abdomen

Question 1

What are the 3 main branches which supply the gut tube and where do they originate from?

Answer 1

Coeliac trunk - T12
Superior mesentery artery - T1
Inferior mesentery artery - T3

Question 2

blood from the abdominopelvic gastrointestinal tract drain via what?

Answer 2

the portal venous system

Question 3

what is the portal vein formed by?

Answer 3

union of the superior mesenteric vein and the splenic vein

Question 4

what are the portocaval anastomoses and why are they present?

Answer 4

blood from the gut tube superior to the diaphragm and inferior to the pelvic floor drains via a systemic circulation, therefore an anastomoses is present where there is a connection between the portal venous system and the systemic venous system.

Question 5

what is the main channel of the portal system?

Answer 5

hepatic portal vein

Question 6

what are the 4 locations where portosystemic anastomoses are found?

Answer 6

Distal Oesophagus - between the oesophageal veins
Rectum- between the rectal veins
Umbilicus - Paraumbillical veins
Colic veins in portal system connecting with Retroperitoneal veins

Question 7

what is the sympathetic nerve supply to the abdominal viscera?

Answer 7

abdominopelvic planchnic nerves
prevertebral sympathetic ganglia
abdominal aortic plexus

Question 8

what is the parasympathetic nerve supply of the abdominal viscera?

Answer 8

anterior and posterior vagal trunk (vagus X)

pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2,3 & 4)

Question 9

what is the chief difference between the ganglia in the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Answer 9

the ganglia in the sympathetic lie close to the vertebra in the sympathetic trunk
the ganglia lie close to the organ in the parasympathetic