CSFA Anatomy & Physiology 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy), which major vascular structure posterior to the neck of the pancreas must be carefully protected?
- Inferior mesenteric vein
- Portal vein (Correct answer)
- Superior mesenteric artery
- Splenic artery
Correct answer: Portal vein
The portal vein lies directly posterior to the neck of the pancreas and is the most critical vascular structure to protect during the pancreatic neck transection in a Whipple procedure.
Question 2: Which foramen in the base of the skull transmits the internal carotid artery into the cranial cavity?
- Foramen ovale
- Foramen spinosum
- Carotid canal (Correct answer)
- Jugular foramen
Correct answer: Carotid canal
The internal carotid artery enters the skull through the carotid canal in the petrous portion of the temporal bone and then enters the middle cranial fossa.
Question 3: The hepatorenal recess (Morrison's pouch) is the most dependent peritoneal space in the supine position and is located between which two organs?
- Liver and stomach
- Right kidney and liver (Correct answer)
- Spleen and left kidney
- Gallbladder and duodenum
Correct answer: Right kidney and liver
Morrison's pouch lies between the posterior surface of the right lobe of the liver and the anterior surface of the right kidney and adrenal gland.
Question 4: Which muscle is responsible for plantar flexion AND inversion of the foot, making it important in clubfoot deformity correction?
- Peroneus longus
- Tibialis anterior
- Tibialis posterior (Correct answer)
- Flexor digitorum longus
Correct answer: Tibialis posterior
The tibialis posterior is a primary plantar flexor and invertor of the foot; its tendon dysfunction leads to acquired flatfoot deformity, and its overactivity contributes to clubfoot.
Question 5: During a mastectomy, the long thoracic nerve must be preserved to prevent which functional deficit?
- Loss of shoulder abduction
- Winging of the scapula (Correct answer)
- Loss of elbow flexion
- Loss of forearm pronation
Correct answer: Winging of the scapula
The long thoracic nerve (C5-C7) innervates the serratus anterior; injury causes the medial scapular border to wing away from the thoracic wall.
Question 6: The sinoatrial node is located at the junction of which two cardiac structures?
- Right atrium and tricuspid valve
- Superior vena cava and right atrium (Correct answer)
- Right atrium and right ventricle
- Inferior vena cava and right atrium
Correct answer: Superior vena cava and right atrium
The SA node is located in the posterior wall of the right atrium at the junction of the superior vena cava, making it the primary cardiac pacemaker.
Question 7: Which meningeal layer closely adheres to the brain surface and follows all gyri and sulci?
- Dura mater
- Arachnoid mater
- Pia mater (Correct answer)
- Periosteal layer
Correct answer: Pia mater
The pia mater is the innermost and most delicate meningeal layer, closely adherent to the brain surface and dipping into every sulcus and fissure.
CSFA Anatomy & Physiology 4
During a Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy), which major vascular structure posterior to the neck of the pancreas must be carefully protected?