Great Vessels of Heart

Question 0

What does the the SVC do and where does it drain

Answer 0

• carries deoxy venous blood from everything above diaphragm except heart and lungs
• Drains into the right atrium

Question 1

What forms the Superior Vena Cava(SVC)

Answer 1

Formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic vv

Question 2

What forms the inferior vena cava (IVC)

Answer 2

formed from the union of the right and left common iliac vv

Question 3

What does the IVC do and where does it drain

Answer 3

• carries deoxy blood from the lower limbs, abdomen, and abdominal viscera
• Drains into the right atrium

Question 4

What vertebral level does the IVC pass through the diaphragm

Answer 4

T8

Question 5

Where do the IVC and SVC sit in relation to the heart

Answer 5

to the right

Question 6

What does the ascending aorta do and how long is it

Answer 6

• carries oxygenated blood form the left ventricle to the rest of the body
• 5cm to sternal angle

Question 7

What branches from the ascending aorta

Answer 7

right and left coronary aa branch at their respective aortic sinuses

Question 8

Where is the pulmonary trunk found and where does it go

Answer 8

• Medial mediastinum, anterior and to the left of the ascending aorta
• Runs backward, upwards and slightly left

Question 9

What does the pulmonary trunk do and where does it come from

Answer 9

• carries deoxy venous blood
• branches into the left and right pulmonary aa
• leaves from the right ventricle

Question 10

What is the ligamentum arteriosum

Answer 10

• Remnant of embryonic ductus arteriosus

- Adult landmark where left recurrent laryngeal n loops around the aortic arch

Question 11

How many pulmonary veins are there

Answer 11

4- 2 right and 2 left

Question 12

What does the pulmonary vein do and where does it drain to

Answer 12

• carry oxygenated blood from the lungs

- drains into the left atrium

Question 13

What are the position of the great vessels

Answer 13

• SVC and IVC are in a vertical line on the right- enters right atrium
• Ascending aorta is centrally located- exits left ventricle
• Pulmonary trunk is on left- exits the right ventricle
• Pulmonary vv are almost horizontal- enter left atrium

Question 14

What is the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in fetal life

Answer 14

blood passes from pulmonary artery to the aorta via the ductus arteriosus – bypasses the lungs while mom oxygenates blood for fetus

Question 15

What is the Patent Ductus Arteriosus after birth

Answer 15

normally constricts and later closes, becoming ligamentum arteriosum

Question 16

What is the result if the Patent Ductus Arteriosus fails to close after birth

Answer 16

high pressure aortic blood passing into the pulmonary artery, raising the blood pressure in pulmonary circulation
–Pulmonary hypertension could lead to congestive heart failure