Lesson 3 (Part 1)

Question 1

What are 5 examples of abdominal vasculature?

Answer 1

1. Arteries
2. Arterioles
3. Capillaries
4. Venuoles
5. Veins

Question 2

Which way do arteries carry blood?

Answer 2

Carries blood away from the the heart

Question 3

Which way do veins carry blood?

Answer 3

Carries blood towards the heart

Question 4

How many tissue layers do arteries and veins have?

Answer 4

3

Question 5

What are the 3 layers in arteries and veins?

Answer 5

1. Tunica intima (interna)
2. Tunica media
3. Tunica externa (adventia)

Question 6

What kind of tissue is the tunica interna?

Answer 6

Endothelium

- very smooth

Question 7

What kind of component is the tunica media?

Answer 7

Muscular component

Question 8

What kind of tissue is the tunica externa?

Answer 8

Connective tissue

Question 9

How many layers are in capillaries?

Answer 9

1

Question 10

Which of the vascular components is thickest? Why?

Answer 10

1. Arteries

2. Because it pumps the most blood

Question 11

Which of the vascular components is in the middle?

Answer 11

Veins

Question 12

Which of the vascular components is the thinnest? Why?

Answer 12

1. Capillaries

2. Because it is 1 cell thick

Question 13

Where is the location of the aorta? (A/R/L)

Answer 13

It lies more left of the midline and is bordered…

1. Anteriorly = stomach, pancreas, celiac trunk, splenic veins and the SMA/SMV
2. Right = IVC
3. Left = splenic vein and tail of the pancreas

Question 14

Where does the aorta bifurcate?

Answer 14

L4

Question 15

What are the 4 sections of the aorta?

Answer 15

1. Ascending aorta
2. Aortic arch
3. Descending aorta
   - thoracic and abdominal
4. Bifurcation
   - into common iliac arteries

Question 16

What is the function of the aorta?

Answer 16

It is the main artery of the body

- distributes blood around

Question 17

What is the contour of the aorta?

Answer 17

Smooth

Question 18

What is the echogenicity of the aorta? (2)

Answer 18

1. Lumen is anechoic

2. Walls are echogenic

Question 19

What kind of muscles would the aorta have since it experiences high pressure from the heart?

Answer 19

Thicker muscles

Question 20

What are reasons on why you would scan an aorta? (3)

Answer 20

1. Clinical indications
   - abdominal aneurysms (blood clots)
2. Patient history
3. Requisitions

Question 21

What kind of transducer do you use for an aorta?

Answer 21

3.5 - 5 MHz transducer

Question 22

What can you use for a window for the aorta?

Answer 22

The left liver

- helpful in trans

Question 23

What size should the aorta be?

Answer 23

< 3 cm

- smaller in children

Question 24

What 3 sections is the aorta broken down to when looking on an ultrasound?

Answer 24

1. Proximal
2. Mid
3. Distal

Question 25

What are the landmarks for the proximal aorta? (2)

Answer 25

1. Celiac trunk | 2. Superior mesenteric artery (SMA)

Question 26

What are the 3 components of the celiac trunk?

Answer 26

1. Left gastric artery - not normally seen on U/S 2. Splenic artery 3. Common hepatic artery

Question 27

What is a landmark for the mid aorta? (2)

Answer 27

1. Right renal artery - transverse 2. Left renal vein - courses anterior to the aorta

Question 28

Where does the right renal artery course?

Answer 28

Posterior to the IVC

Question 29

Which renal artery is longer?

Answer 29

The right one

Question 30

Why is the right renal artery longer than the left one?

Answer 30

The heart is situated on the left side of the body so it has a longer path to travel

Question 31

What is the landmark of the distal aorta?

Answer 31

Just before bifurcation

Question 32

How does the GE junction look on a scan? (2)

Answer 32

1. Hypoechoic walls | 2. Echoic centre