MLT GlobeAnatomy: Cardiovascular system
37 Anatomy MCQs on Cardiovascular system with answers and explanations.
A double-walled fibroserous sac enclosing the heart and roots of the great vessels is the:
The pericardium has a tough fibrous outer layer and a serous inner layer. Pericardial fluid is sometimes aspirated and sent for laboratory analysis.
Once it passes under the inguinal ligament, which artery becomes the femoral artery?
The external iliac artery becomes the femoral artery at the inguinal ligament; the femoral artery is a common site for arterial blood gas sampling.
The right and left brachiocephalic veins join to drain into which vessel?
The two brachiocephalic veins unite behind the right first costal cartilage to form the superior vena cava. The subclavian and internal jugular veins join to form each brachiocephalic vein.
Nutrient-rich blood from the intestines reaches the liver through which vessel?
The hepatic portal vein carries blood from the gut and spleen to the liver. Hepatic veins drain blood out of the liver into the inferior vena cava.
The main artery and vein serving the thigh and lower limb share which name?
The femoral artery continues from the external iliac to supply the lower limb, and the femoral vein returns blood from it. Brachial vessels serve the arm.
Branches of the systemic arteries (e.g. renal, hepatic) are mostly named after what?
Most systemic vessels are named for the organ or region they serve, e.g. renal artery to the kidney, femoral artery to the thigh.
The heart within its pericardium occupies which subdivision of the mediastinum?
The middle mediastinum contains the heart and pericardium. The posterior mediastinum holds the oesophagus and descending aorta.
Which artery carries oxygen-poor blood?
The pulmonary trunk and arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle to the lungs. All systemic arteries carry oxygenated blood.
A patient with a painful, red cord along a superficial vein after cannulation has:
Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, often after cannulation. Lymphangitis affects lymph vessels and arteritis affects arteries.
Which structure normally sets the heart rate as its pacemaker?
The SA node in the right atrial wall depolarises fastest and so sets sinus rhythm. The AV node takes over only if the SA node fails.
When the left ventricle contracts, which valve is forced open?
Left ventricular systole opens the aortic valve and closes the mitral valve. The pulmonary valve opens with right ventricular contraction.
The apex of the heart, felt in the left 5th intercostal space, is formed by which chamber?
The apex is formed by the left ventricle, which is why the apex beat reflects left ventricular activity.
Which vessels hold most of the blood volume and are called capacitance vessels?
Veins are thin-walled and distensible, holding about 60–70% of the blood volume at rest.
The outer layer of the pericardium is composed mainly of:
The fibrous pericardium is tough collagenous tissue preventing overdistension; inside it lies the serous pericardium.
The central compartment of the thorax between the two pleural cavities, containing the heart, is the:
The mediastinum lies between the lungs and holds the heart, great vessels, trachea, oesophagus and thymus. The pericardium is only the sac around the heart.
The azygos system of veins returns blood mainly from the walls of which region?
The azygos and hemiazygos veins collect blood from the posterior thoracic wall (intercostal veins) and drain into the superior vena cava. Abdominal viscera drain via the portal system.
Blood from the stomach and intestines flows through their capillaries, then through the liver sinusoids before returning to the heart. This arrangement is called:
A portal system links two capillary beds by a vein; the hepatic portal vein carries gut blood to liver sinusoids. Pulmonary circulation passes through only one capillary bed.
On a chest X-ray, which chamber forms the right border of the heart shadow?
The right atrium forms the right heart border. The right ventricle forms most of the anterior surface; the left ventricle forms the left border and apex.
The main artery supplying the posterior (calf) compartment of the leg is the:
The popliteal artery divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries; the posterior tibial (with its fibular branch) supplies the calf. The anterior tibial supplies the anterior compartment.
The RIGHT common carotid artery arises from the:
The brachiocephalic trunk divides into the right subclavian and right common carotid arteries; the left common carotid arises directly from the aortic arch.