Vascular Anatomy

Question 1

Name the first branches of the aorta.

Answer 1

• right and left coronary arteries, which supply the myocardium of the heart

Question 2

Name the branches of the aortic arch and describe the main ligament associated with it.

Answer 2

• proximal to distal:
  – brachiocephalic trunk: ascends laterally to split into the right common carotid and right subclavian
  – left common carotid
  – left subclavian
• ligament: ligamentum arterisoum - the remnant of the ductus arteriosus in the foetus, which connects the aorta to the pulmonary trunk

Question 3

Name the branches of the thoracic aorta.

Answer 3

• bronchial: supplies bronchial tissue and visceral pleura
• mediastinal: lymph glands, loose areolar tissue
• oesophageal
• pericardial
• superior phrenic
• intercostal (+ subcostal)

Question 4

At which vertebral level does the abdominal aorta bifurcate?

Answer 4

• L4
• bifurcates into common iliac arteries

Question 5

Name the branches of the internal iliac artery.

Answer 5

• bifurcates into anterior and posterior branches
• anterior [SO IV (fourth) U MR PIG
  – superior vesical
  – obturator
  – inferior vesical
  – uterine
  – middle rectal
  – (internal) pudendal
  – inferior gluteal
• posterior [PILS]
  – iliolumbar, divides into iliac and lumbar branches
  – lateral sacral
  – superior gluteal

Question 6

Name the boundaries and contents of the femoral triangle.

Answer 6

• boundaries:
  – superior: inguinal ligament (external iliac artery becomes femoral artery)
  – medial: adductor longus
  – lateral: sartorius
• contents [NAVEL, lateral to medial]: femoral nerve, artery, vein, empty space, and lymphatics

Question 7

Name the branches of the femoral artery and the clinical significance associated with these.

Answer 7

• perforating arteries: 3-4 branches that perforate the adductor magnus, supplying the posteromedial thigh
• lateral femoral circumflex: anterolateral femur, supplying the lateral thigh muscles
• medial femoral circumflex: wraps around posterior femur, supplying its head and neck; therefore fractures can lead to avascular necrosis

Question 8

Name the boundaries and contents of the adductor canal.

Answer 8

• anteromedial: sartorius
• anterolateral: vastus medialis
• posterior: adductor longus
• contents: femoral artery + vein, saphenous nerve, nerve to vastus medialis

Question 9

Name the boundaries and contents of the popliteal fossa.

Answer 9

• medial to lateral: Serve And Volley Next Ball
  – semimembranosus and semitendinosus (combine to form medial border)
  – artery (popliteal)
  – vein (popliteal)
  – nerve (tibial)
  – biceps femoris (lateral border)
• in addition, the gastrocnemius heads form the inferolateral and inferomedial borders, with the plantaris contributing to the former

Question 10

Name the points where artery names change within the lower limb.

Answer 10

• external iliac to femoral: inguinal ligament
• femoral to popliteal: adductor hiatus
• popliteal to anterior tibial: interosseous membrane between tibia and fibula
• anterior tibial to dorsalis pedis: between the lateral and medial malleolus