Lesson 3 (Part 1) Flashcards
What are 5 examples of abdominal vasculature?
- Arteries
- Arterioles
- Capillaries
- Venuoles
- Veins
Which way do arteries carry blood?
Carries blood away from the the heart
Which way do veins carry blood?
Carries blood towards the heart
How many tissue layers do arteries and veins have?
3
What are the 3 layers in arteries and veins?
- Tunica intima (interna)
- Tunica media
- Tunica externa (adventia)
What kind of tissue is the tunica interna?
Endothelium
- very smooth
What kind of component is the tunica media?
Muscular component
What kind of tissue is the tunica externa?
Connective tissue
How many layers are in capillaries?
1
Which of the vascular components is thickest? Why?
- Arteries
2. Because it pumps the most blood
Which of the vascular components is in the middle?
Veins
Which of the vascular components is the thinnest? Why?
- Capillaries
2. Because it is 1 cell thick
Where is the location of the aorta? (A/R/L)
It lies more left of the midline and is bordered…
- Anteriorly = stomach, pancreas, celiac trunk, splenic veins and the SMA/SMV
- Right = IVC
- Left = splenic vein and tail of the pancreas
Where does the aorta bifurcate?
L4
What are the 4 sections of the aorta?
- Ascending aorta
- Aortic arch
- Descending aorta
- thoracic and abdominal - Bifurcation
- into common iliac arteries
What is the function of the aorta?
It is the main artery of the body
- distributes blood around
What is the contour of the aorta?
Smooth
What is the echogenicity of the aorta? (2)
- Lumen is anechoic
2. Walls are echogenic
What kind of muscles would the aorta have since it experiences high pressure from the heart?
Thicker muscles
What are reasons on why you would scan an aorta? (3)
- Clinical indications
- abdominal aneurysms (blood clots) - Patient history
- Requisitions
What kind of transducer do you use for an aorta?
3.5 - 5 MHz transducer
What can you use for a window for the aorta?
The left liver
- helpful in trans
What size should the aorta be?
< 3 cm
- smaller in children
What 3 sections is the aorta broken down to when looking on an ultrasound?
- Proximal
- Mid
- Distal
What are the landmarks for the proximal aorta? (2)
- Celiac trunk
2. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)
What are the 3 components of the celiac trunk?
- Left gastric artery
- not normally seen on U/S - Splenic artery
- Common hepatic artery
What is a landmark for the mid aorta? (2)
- Right renal artery
- transverse - Left renal vein
- courses anterior to the aorta
Where does the right renal artery course?
Posterior to the IVC
Which renal artery is longer?
The right one
Why is the right renal artery longer than the left one?
The heart is situated on the left side of the body so it has a longer path to travel
What is the landmark of the distal aorta?
Just before bifurcation
How does the GE junction look on a scan? (2)
- Hypoechoic walls
2. Echoic centre
