Anatomy and Physiology Flashcards
7 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anatomy and Physiology flashcards as text
Which layer of the heart wall is responsible for the contractile force of cardiac muscle?
Answer: Myocardium
The myocardium is the thick middle muscular layer of the heart wall composed of cardiac muscle cells that generate the pumping force.
The triangles of the neck are important surgical landmarks. The carotid triangle contains which major vessels?
Answer: Common carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve
The carotid triangle contains the common carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and vagus nerve forming the carotid sheath, making it a critical surgical region.
Which vertebral level marks the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta into the common iliac arteries?
Answer: L4
The abdominal aorta bifurcates into the right and left common iliac arteries at the level of the L4 vertebra, just below the umbilicus.
In the context of surgery, which fascia encloses the rectus abdominis muscle and is commonly used as a graft or repair layer?
Answer: Rectus sheath
The rectus sheath is a strong fibrous compartment formed by the aponeuroses of the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis muscles.
The pleural cavity normally contains a small amount of fluid. What is its primary function?
Answer: Reducing friction during breathing
Pleural fluid lubricates the surfaces of the visceral and parietal pleura, reducing friction as the lungs expand and contract during respiration.
Which bone forms the posterior wall of the orbit and is commonly fractured in a 'blowout' orbital fracture?
Answer: Orbital floor (maxilla)
A blowout fracture typically involves the thin orbital floor formed by the maxilla, which buckles inward under sudden increased intraorbital pressure.
During a prostatectomy, which nerve bundles running posterolateral to the prostate must be preserved to maintain erectile function?
Answer: Neurovascular bundles of Walsh
The neurovascular bundles of Walsh run posterolateral to the prostate and contain the cavernous nerves responsible for erectile function.