Radiology and Cross-Sectional Anatomy

Question 1

Axial Section

Answer 1

• horizontal (or parallel to the ground if patient standing)

- most CT is this

Question 2

sagittal section

Answer 2

• a plane running longitudinally front-to-back

* longitudinal = a section that is cut along the long axis of a structure

Question 3

coronal section

Answer 3

-any vertical plane that divides the body into dorsal and ventral sections

Question 4

small intestine vs. large intestine

-to distinguish in plain film x-ray

Answer 4

SI
-has plicae circulares: mucosal folds that extend across the entire diameter of the bowel

LI
-has haustra: indent the margin but do not extend across the bowel

Question 5

Which imaging modality?

-non-specific abdominal pain/distension

Answer 5

-abdominal plain film

Question 6

Which imaging modality?

-RUQ pain after eating

Answer 6

-Ultrasound (cholecystitis?)

Question 7

Which imaging modality?

-RLQ pain, nausea, vomiting

Answer 7

• abdominal plain film

- if no obstruction than US (if thin) or CT

Question 8

Which imaging modality?

-Trauma

Answer 8

-CT with IV contrast

Question 9

Which imaging modality?

-Pelvic Pain

Answer 9

-US (in younger women) or CT

Question 10

Spotting mets in the liver

Answer 10

-lower attenuation foci within the liver during portal venous phase

Question 11

Spotting Acute Cholecystitis

Answer 11

• Distended Gallbladder*
• Surrounding fluid*
• stones and sludge
• thick wall

*most characteristic

Question 12

Cirrhosis

-characteristics

Answer 12

• left lobe and caudate lobe hypertrophy

- portal hypertension

Question 13

portal hypertension causes:

Answer 13

• Reversed portal venous flow
• splenomegaly
• varices
• Ascites*

*may notice on plain film that bowel loops are positioned centrally. This can be due to the presence of ascites.

Question 14

What is present in the RUQ?

Answer 14

• liver
• gallbladder
• hepatic fixture of colon
• right kidney and adrenal gland

Question 15

What is present in the LUQ?

Answer 15

• spleen
• left lobe of liver
• splenic flexure
• L kidney and adrenal

Question 16

What lives in the midline of the abdomen?

Answer 16

• Pancreas
• Stomach
• Transverse Colon and small intestine
• Aorta and IVC

Question 17

Celiac artery

-location

Answer 17

just below the diaphragm at the level of T12

Question 18

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

-location

Answer 18

-approx 1 cm below the origin of the celiac at the level of the upper half of L1

Question 19

Inferior mesenteric artery (IMA)

-location

Answer 19

• at the level of L3

- approx 3 cm above the aortic bifurcation

Question 20

in most individuals (~65%) the celiac artery divides into three major branches:

Answer 20

• splenic artery
• gastric artery
• hepatic artery

Question 21

intraperitoneal organs

Answer 21

covered in a layer visceral peritoneum, a double layer of which (mesentery) connects them to the posterior abdominal wall

Question 22

Which organs are intraperitoneal?

Answer 22

• liver
• spleen
• uterus
• ovaries
• fallopian tubes

Question 23

which portions of the GI tract are intraperitoneal?

Answer 23

• First portion of duodenum
• small bowel
• cecum, appendix, transverse and sigmoid colon
• rectum (upper 1/3)

Question 24

Which organs are retroperitoneal?

Answer 24

• kidneys and adrenals
• IVC and aorta
• pancreas
• duodenum
• ascending and descending colon

Question 25

What is in the RLQ?

Answer 25

• Cecum
• ileocecal region
• appendix
• ovary

Question 26

most common clinical entities in RLQ

Answer 26

• appendicitis
• inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s)
• colonic malignancy
• pelvic abnormalities

Question 27

What’s in the LLQ?

Answer 27

• descending colon

- ovary

Question 28

most common clinical entities in the LLQ

Answer 28

• Diverticulitis

- pelvic abnormalities

Question 29

hysterosalpingography

• what is it?
• used for what?

Answer 29

• inject radio-opaque die into uterus and up into fallopian tubes
• used to see if the fallopian tubes are patent