Random cardio anatomy questions Flashcards
What 3 arteries branch off the aortic arch (from left to right anteriorly)?
Brachiocephalic trunk
Left common carotid
Left subclavian
Where is the opening of the Right coronary artery?
The right aortic sinus
Where is the opening of the Left coronary artery?
The left aortic sinus
Where is the origin of the Right marginal artery?
Right coronary artery
Where is the origin of the Circumflex artery?
Left coronary artery
Where is the origin of the Left marginal artery?
Circumflex branch
Where does the thoracic aorta lie?
It lies posterior to the root of the left lung, the pericardium, and the oesophagus
How does the thoracic aorta change as it passes down the body?
It changes to the abdominal aorta anterior to the inferior border of the T12 vertebra, and it enters the abdomen through the aortic hiatus (opening) in the diaphragm.
- The aorta bifurcates into the left and right common iliac arteries at L4.
What is the origin of the Vagus (CN X) nerve?
8-10 rootlets from medulla of brainstem
What is the origin of the phrenic nerve?
Anterior rami of C3-C5 nerves
What is the origin of intercostals (1-11) nerves?
Anterior rami of T1-T11 nerves
What is the origin of the subcostal nerve?
Anterior ramus of T12 nerve
What is the origin of the Recurrent laryngeal nerve?
Vagus nerve
What is the origin of the cardiac plexus?
Cervical and cardiac branches of vagus nerve and sympathetic trunk
What is the origin of the pulmonary plexus?
Vagus nerve and sympathetic trunk
What is the origin of the esophageal plexus?
Vagus nerve, sympathetic ganglia and greater splanchnic nerve
What does the posterior mediastinum contain?
- Thoracic aorta
- Thoracic duct
- Posterior mediastinal lymph nodes
- Azygos and hemi-azygos veins
- Oesophagus
- Thoracic sympathetic trunks
- Thoracic splanchnic nerves
What is the origin of the ascending aorta?
Aortic orifice of left ventricle
What is the origin of the arch of aorta?
Continuation of ascending aorta
What is the origin of the thoracic aorta?
Continuation of arch of aorta
What is the origin of the posterior intercostal arteries?
Posterior aspect of thoracic aorta
What is the origin of the bronchial arteries?
Anterior aspect of aorta or posterior intercostal artery
What is the origin of the Oesophageal arteries?
Anterior aspect of thoracic aorta
What is the origin of the superior phrenic artery(ies)?
Anterior aspect of thoracic aorta
What structures are in the superior mediastinum?
- Thymus
- Trachea
- Oesophagus
- Thoracic duct
- Arch of aorta
- Superior vena cava
What structures are in the anterior mediastinum?
- Fat (adipose tissue)
- Some lymphatic vessels
- Branches of the internal thoracic vessels
What structures are in the middle mediastinum?
- Heart
- Pericardium
- Ascending aorta
- Pulmonary trunk
- Superior vena cava
- Cardiac plexus
- Phrenic nerves
Which fetal shunt connects the aorta to the pulmonary artery?
Ductus arteriosus
What 4 sections can the aorta be divided into?
- Ascending aorta
- Aortic arch
- Thoracic (descending) aorta
- Abdominal aorta
At what level does the aorta bifurcate?
L4
- It bifurcates into the left and right common iliac arteries.
What is coarctation of the aorta?
It refers to narrowing of the vessel, usually at the insertion of the ligamentum arteriosum (former ductus arteriosus).
- It is a congenital condition.
- The narrow vessel has an increased resistance to blood flow, which increases the after-load for the left ventricle – leading to left ventricular hypertrophy.
