Blood Vessels of the Trunk, Head, & Neck

Question 1

T or F: the ascending aorta has no branches.

Answer 1

• false!

- it has the coronary arteries (the first aortic branches are therefore the coronary arteries)

Question 2

The aortic arch passes backwards in a ________ plane after passing to the _______ of the trachea.

Answer 2

• sagittal plane

- passes to the left of the trachea

Question 3

The __________ extends from the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. It is the remnant of the _________.

Answer 3

• ligamentum arteriosum

- is a remnant of the ductus arteriosus

Question 4

Which nerve is the ligamentum arteriosum associated with?

Answer 4

• the left recurrent laryngeal nerve

- (lies lower than the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, which is associated with the right subclavian artery)

Question 5

The 3rd-12th posterior intercostal arteries arise from the _______, while the 1st and 2nd come from the _________.

Answer 5

• most posterior intercostal arteries come from the thoracic aorta
• the first two come from the subclavian arteries via the costocervical trunks

Question 6

Which artery feeds into the anterior spinal artery? Between which vertebral levels can it lie?

Answer 6

• the artery of Adamkiewicz

- anywhere between T4 and T10

Question 7

What are the branches of the aorta (in order)?

Answer 7

• coronary arteries, brachiocephalic trunk, left common carotid, left subclavian, superior phrenics, celiac trunk, inferior phrenics, suprarenals, superior mesenteric, renal arteries, right gonadal, left gonadal, inferior mesenteric

Question 8

Three Branches of the Celiac Trunk

Answer 8

• splenic, left gastric, and common hepatic

Question 9

At what vertebral level does the abdominal aorta bifuricate into the two common iliac arteries?

Answer 9

• L4

Question 10

What are the major tributaries of the IVC?

Answer 10

• the renal veins and iliac veins

Question 11

What are the major tributaries of the SVC?

Answer 11

• the jugular and subclavian veins which dump into the brachiocephalic veins
• the azygous vein

Question 12

T or F: the areas supplied by the celiac trunk and the mesenteric arteries drain directly into the IVC.

Answer 12

• false!
• these actually drain into the hepatic portal vein –> pass through the liver –> enter the hepatic veins –> enter the IVC

Question 13

What do we call a system that starts and ends with capillary beds?

Answer 13

• a portal venous system

Question 14

The right gonadal vein drains directly into the _______, while the left drains directly into the _______.

Answer 14

• right: IVC

- left: left renal vein –> IVC

Question 15

The inferior mesenteric vein drains directly into the:

Answer 15

• splenic vein –> hepatic portal vein –> IVC

Question 16

What does the azygous venous system drain?

Answer 16

• the posterior abdominal and chest wall

Question 17

Which carotid artery has the branches?

Answer 17

• the external carotid artery

Question 18

List the eight branches of the external carotid artery.

Answer 18

• superior thyroid, ascending pharyngeal, lingual, facial, occipital, posterior auricular, maxillary, superficial temporal

Question 19

Which vessel runs posterior to the scalenus anterior muscle? Anterior?

Answer 19

• posterior: subclavian artery

- anterior: subclavian vein

Question 20

Trace the path of the vertebral artery.

Answer 20

• branches from the subclavian artery –> transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae –> around the occipital condyle –> into the skull through the foramen magnum

Question 21

What is found within the carotid sheath?

Answer 21

• the internal jugular vein, the carotid artery, and the vagus nerve

Question 22

The external jugular vein drains blood from the:

Answer 22

• scalp and face

- (everything else basically goes to the IJV)