CTBS Anatomy and Physiology 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When assessing donor suitability for musculoskeletal tissue, which nerve supplies the rotator cuff muscle responsible for initiating shoulder abduction?
- Axillary nerve to the supraspinatus
- Suprascapular nerve to the supraspinatus (Correct answer)
- Musculocutaneous nerve to the deltoid
- Radial nerve to the infraspinatus
Correct answer: Suprascapular nerve to the supraspinatus
The suprascapular nerve innervates the supraspinatus, which initiates the first 15 degrees of shoulder abduction before the deltoid takes over.
Question 2: Which anatomical term describes the tissue that lines joint cavities and produces synovial fluid?
- Hyaline cartilage
- Synovial membrane (synovium) (Correct answer)
- Fibrous joint capsule
- Articular periosteum
Correct answer: Synovial membrane (synovium)
The synovial membrane lines the inner surface of joint capsules and secretes synovial fluid that lubricates and nourishes articular cartilage.
Question 3: A tissue specialist processing Achilles tendon allografts notes it is the thickest tendon in the body. It inserts onto which anatomical structure?
- The medial malleolus of the tibia
- The calcaneal tuberosity of the heel bone (Correct answer)
- The navicular tuberosity of the midfoot
- The base of the fifth metatarsal
Correct answer: The calcaneal tuberosity of the heel bone
The Achilles tendon inserts into the posterior surface of the calcaneal tuberosity, transmitting the force of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles.
Question 4: In cardiovascular tissue banking, pulmonary homografts are used for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. The pulmonary trunk arises from which cardiac chamber?
- Right atrium
- Left ventricle
- Right ventricle (Correct answer)
- Left atrium
Correct answer: Right ventricle
The pulmonary trunk originates from the right ventricle, carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs for gas exchange.
Question 5: During donor skin recovery, the dermal-epidermal junction (DEJ) is composed of which specialized extracellular structure?
- Basal lamina with anchoring fibrils (type VII collagen) (Correct answer)
- Type II collagen fibers continuous with the dermis
- Elastic fibers forming a mesh at the epidermal base
- Gap junctions connecting keratinocytes to fibroblasts
Correct answer: Basal lamina with anchoring fibrils (type VII collagen)
The DEJ consists of a basement membrane (basal lamina) anchored by type VII collagen hemidesmosomes that attach the epidermis to the underlying dermis.
Question 6: Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) portions and is referenced when describing tissue layer orientation?
- Sagittal plane
- Transverse plane
- Coronal (frontal) plane (Correct answer)
- Oblique plane
Correct answer: Coronal (frontal) plane
The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into front (anterior) and back (posterior) sections, used to describe tissue layer orientation in reconstructive procedures.
Question 7: Which ligament of the knee, often recovered as an allograft, connects the femur to the tibia and primarily resists anterior tibial translation?
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL)
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) (Correct answer)
- Lateral collateral ligament (LCL)
Correct answer: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)
The ACL runs from the anterior tibial plateau to the lateral femoral condyle and is the primary restraint against anterior tibial displacement relative to the femur.
CTBS Anatomy and Physiology 4
When assessing donor suitability for musculoskeletal tissue, which nerve supplies the rotator cuff muscle responsible for initiating shoulder abduction?