Introduction to the abdomen

Question 1

What are the boundaries of the abdominal cavity?

Answer 1

The respiratory diaphragm to the pelvic girdle and pelvic inlet

Question 2

List the 4 surface anatomy horizontal planes.

Answer 2

L1 - transpyloric plane
L2 - subcostal plane
L4 - supracristal plane
L5 - transtubercular plane

Question 3

What is a dermatome?

Answer 3

An area of skin which is given sensation to and innervated by a single spinal nerve

Question 4

What is the rectus sheath?

Answer 4

An aponeurotic tendinous sheath formed by a unique layering of the aponeuroses of the external and internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles

Question 5

The posterior surface of the lower quarter of the rectus abdominis is in direct contact with what?

Answer 5

Transversalis fascia

Question 6

List the 5 layers of the abdominal wall from superficial to deep.

Answer 6

1. Skin
2. Superficial fascia - Camper’s and Scarpa’s fascia
3. Muscles and aponeuroses
4. Transversalis fascia
5. Parietal peritoneum

Question 7

Describe the layers of the superficial fascia.

Answer 7

Camper’s fascia - superficial fatty layer which contains fat

Scarpa’s fascia - deeper membranous layer

Question 8

Which direction do the muscle fibres of the external oblique run?

Answer 8

Inferomedially

Question 9

The inguinal ligament is formed by what?

Answer 9

The lower border of the aponeurosis of the external oblique

Question 10

What are the attachment points of the inguinal ligament?

Answer 10

The anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and pubic tubercle

Question 11

Which direction do the muscle fibres of the internal oblique run?

Answer 11

Superomedially

Question 12

The superior epigastric artery originates from which artery?

Answer 12

Internal thoracic artery

Question 13

The inferior epigastric artery originates from which artery?

Answer 13

External iliac artery

Question 14

Nerves and arteries supplying the abdominal wall run between which muscles?

Answer 14

Internal oblique + transversus abdominis

Question 15

What are the 5 main types of abdominal surgical incision?

Answer 15

Midline
Paramedian
Gridiron
Pfannenstiel (suprapubic)
Subcostal (Kocher)

Question 16

Which surgical incision is used to access the appendix?

Answer 16

Gridiron

Question 17

Which nerve is at risk with a gridiron incision?

Answer 17

Iliohypogastric nerve

Question 18

Which 2 nerves are at risk with a Pfannenstiel (suprapubic) incision?

Answer 18

Iliohypogastric nerve
Ilioinguinal nerve

Question 19

What are the 2 layers of the bilaminar embryonic disc?

Answer 19

Epiblast
Hypoblast

Question 20

Which sac is above the epiblast?

Answer 20

Amniotic sac

Question 21

Which sac is below the hypoblast?

Answer 21

Yolk sac

Question 22

What are the 3 layers of the trilaminar embryonic disc?

Answer 22

Ectoderm
Mesoderm
Endoderm

Question 23

The peritoneum is formed from which layer of the trilaminar disc?

Answer 23

Mesoderm

Question 24

Which region of the gut tube has both a dorsal and ventral mesentery?

Answer 24

Foregut

Question 25

The embryological ventral mesentery contains which structure which is essential for the developing embryo? What does it connect to?

Answer 25

Umbilical vein Connects to placenta

Question 26

Visceral pain can be caused by which 3 things?

Answer 26

Stretch Inflammation Hypoxia

Question 27

Which spinal nerves innervate the foregut?

Answer 27

T5 - T9

Question 28

Which spinal nerves innervate the midgut?

Answer 28

T10 - T11

Question 29

Which spinal nerves innervate the hindgut?

Answer 29

T12 - L1