aortic branches

Question 1

where does the aorta receive its cardiac output from?

Answer 1

the left ventricle

Question 2

what are the 4 sections of the aorta?

Answer 2

1. the ascending aorta,
2. the aortic arch,
3. the thoracic (descending) aorta
4. the abdominal aorta.

Question 3

where does the aorta terminate?

Answer 3

• level of L4/5

by bifurcating into the left and right common iliac arteries.

Question 4

with what other vessel does the ascending aorta and aortic arch travel with?

Answer 4

• with the pulmonary trunk
• connected via ligamentum arteriosum
• in the pericardial sheath.

Question 5

what are the branches of the ascending aorta?

Answer 5

• the L&R coronary arteries

- from the L&R aortic sinuses

Question 6

when does the aortic arch begin and end?

Answer 6

• begins at the level of the second sternocostal joint.

- ends at the level of the T4 vertebra

Question 7

what are the 3 major branches arising from the aortic arch?

Answer 7

1. brachiocephalic trunk - (RCC + RSC)
2. left common carotid
3. left subclavian

Question 8

what do common carotid arteries supply?

Answer 8

common: head neck, upper limb

branches into:

• external (face, neck)
• internal ( brain, circle of willis)

Question 9

the subclavian artery: what does its 1st section of branches supply ?

Answer 9

1. pre anterior scalene muscle

• vertebral artery (brain)
• internal thoracic (ant. thoracic wall, breast)
• thyrocervical trunk ( larynx, trachea, oesophagus, thyroid)

Question 10

the subclavian artery: what does its 2nd section of branches supply ?

Answer 10

2. scalene muscle part

- costocervical trunk (upper thorax, deep cervical muscles)

Question 11

the subclavian artery: what does its 3rd section of branches supply ?

Answer 11

3. post scalene muscle

- dorsal scapula ( some muscles of upper back and shoulder)

Question 12

after a specific point, the subclavian artery becomes a different artery.
what point it this? what is the new name?

Answer 12

• the axillary artery

- after lateral border of 1st rib

Question 13

where does the thoracic/descending aorta begin and end?

Answer 13

T4-T12

Question 14

what are the paired arteries in the thoracic/descending aorta ?

Answer 14

PAIRED

• intercostal
• superior phrenic

Question 15

what are the unpaired arteries in the thoracic/descending aorta ?

Answer 15

UNPAIRED

• bronchial
• mediastinal
• oesophageal
• pericardial

Question 16

where does the abdominal aorta begin and end?

Answer 16

starts at T12

ends at L4-5 at bifurication of the RCI and LCI

Question 17

what are the 3 major anterior branches of the abdominal aorta? (unpaired)

what are the levels of each?

Answer 17

1. Celiac trunk - T12
2. superior mesenteric artery- L1
3. inferior mesenteric artery - L3

Question 18

what does the celiac trunk supply? what are its branches?

Answer 18

the foregut (oral cavity to the initial part of the duodenum)

1. Left gastric
2. splenic
3. common hepatic

(oesophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, spleen and duodenum)

Question 19

what does the superior mesenteric artery supply? SMA? branches?

Answer 19

the midgut (mid-duodenum to the proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon)

• middle and right colic arteries
• ileocolic
• jejunal & ileal

(jejunum, ilium, caecum, ascending 2/3 transverse colon)

Question 20

what does the inferior mesenteric artery supply? IMA? branches?

Answer 20

the hindgut ( distal 1/3 transverse colon, rest of bowel, 1/3 rectum)

• left colic
• sigmoid
• superior rectal

Question 21

what are the paired arteries of the abdominal aorta?

Answer 21

• lumbar arteries
• inferior phrenic (superior adrenal)
• middle adrenal (inferior adrenal)
• renal
• gonadal

Question 22

what do the lumbar arteries supply?

Answer 22

lumbar region, vertebrae, spinal cord, abdominal wall

Question 23

what do the gonadal arteries supply?

Answer 23

either ovaries or testes