CSFA Anatomy & Physiology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a total knee arthroplasty, which artery anastomosis forms the geniculate network around the knee joint?
- Popliteal artery and its five geniculate branches (Correct answer)
- Femoral artery and its three geniculate branches
- Posterior tibial and peroneal arteries only
- Deep femoral artery and anterior tibial artery
Correct answer: Popliteal artery and its five geniculate branches
The popliteal artery gives off five geniculate arteries (superior medial, superior lateral, middle, inferior medial, inferior lateral) that form the anastomotic network around the knee.
Question 2: The thoracic duct terminates by emptying into which venous structure?
- Right subclavian vein
- Left subclavian vein at its junction with the internal jugular vein (Correct answer)
- Superior vena cava
- Left brachiocephalic vein
Correct answer: Left subclavian vein at its junction with the internal jugular vein
The thoracic duct empties into the venous system at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins (left venous angle).
Question 3: Which spinal cord segment levels are responsible for the phrenic nerve, making high cervical injuries potentially fatal?
- C1-C2
- C3-C5 (Correct answer)
- C5-C7
- T1-T4
Correct answer: C3-C5
The phrenic nerve arises from cervical roots C3, C4, and C5 (primarily C4), and injuries above C3 paralyze the diaphragm, preventing spontaneous breathing.
Question 4: During an appendectomy via McBurney's incision, which three muscle layers are split in sequence after incising the skin?
- Rectus abdominis, internal oblique, transversus abdominis
- External oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis (Correct answer)
- External oblique, rectus abdominis, internal oblique
- Skin, fascia, peritoneum only
Correct answer: External oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis
The McBurney incision splits the external oblique aponeurosis, then bluntly splits the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscle fibers.
Question 5: The zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex primarily produces which class of hormones?
- Mineralocorticoids
- Glucocorticoids (Correct answer)
- Androgens
- Catecholamines
Correct answer: Glucocorticoids
The zona fasciculata is the middle and largest zone of the adrenal cortex, primarily responsible for producing glucocorticoids such as cortisol.
Question 6: Which ligament of the knee prevents anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur and is most commonly reconstructed using patellar tendon autograft?
- Posterior cruciate ligament
- Medial collateral ligament
- Anterior cruciate ligament (Correct answer)
- Arcuate ligament
Correct answer: Anterior cruciate ligament
The ACL is the primary restraint to anterior tibial translation and is the most frequently reconstructed knee ligament, often using the central third of the patellar tendon.
Question 7: The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by which cellular component of the neurovascular unit?
- Astrocyte end-feet alone
- Tight junctions between cerebral endothelial cells (Correct answer)
- Microglial processes
- Pericyte basement membrane
Correct answer: Tight junctions between cerebral endothelial cells
The blood-brain barrier is structurally formed by tight junctions (zonula occludens) between adjacent cerebral capillary endothelial cells, which restrict paracellular diffusion.
CSFA Anatomy & Physiology 3
During a total knee arthroplasty, which artery anastomosis forms the geniculate network around the knee joint?