CSC Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A specimen collector notes that a patient's veins are not visible or palpable in the antecubital area. Which alternative site on the forearm is the next best option?
- Femoral vein
- Dorsal hand veins (Correct answer)
- Jugular vein
- Popliteal vein
Correct answer: Dorsal hand veins
Dorsal hand veins are the next acceptable alternative when antecubital veins are inaccessible, though they require smaller gauge needles.
Question 2: Which component of whole blood is responsible for oxygen transport throughout the body?
- Platelets
- Plasma
- Erythrocytes (Correct answer)
- Leukocytes
Correct answer: Erythrocytes
Erythrocytes (red blood cells) contain hemoglobin, which binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it to tissues throughout the body.
Question 3: The femoral artery runs through which region of the lower extremity and must be avoided during routine blood collection?
- Popliteal fossa
- Antecubital fossa
- Femoral triangle (Correct answer)
- Inguinal ligament only
Correct answer: Femoral triangle
The femoral artery passes through the femoral triangle in the upper inner thigh; accidental arterial puncture here can cause serious hemorrhage.
Question 4: Which organ produces bile that is stored in the gallbladder and released to emulsify dietary fats in the duodenum?
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Liver (Correct answer)
- Stomach
Correct answer: Liver
The liver continuously produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and secreted into the duodenum when fatty food enters the small intestine.
Question 5: When performing a heel stick on a newborn, the maximum recommended puncture depth is 2.0 mm to avoid injuring which underlying structure?
- Femur
- Tibial nerve
- Calcaneus (heel bone) (Correct answer)
- Plantar fascia
Correct answer: Calcaneus (heel bone)
Puncturing deeper than 2.0 mm risks striking the calcaneus (heel bone), potentially causing osteomyelitis or osteochondritis in neonates.
Question 6: Which anatomical plane divides the body into left and right halves and is used to describe the position of midline structures?
- Transverse plane
- Frontal (coronal) plane
- Sagittal (midsagittal) plane (Correct answer)
- Oblique plane
Correct answer: Sagittal (midsagittal) plane
The midsagittal plane divides the body into equal left and right halves, and structures on this line are described as midline or median.
Question 7: The tunica media, the middle layer of a blood vessel wall, is composed primarily of which tissue type?
- Endothelium
- Smooth muscle and elastic fibers (Correct answer)
- Dense connective tissue
- Adipose tissue
Correct answer: Smooth muscle and elastic fibers
The tunica media consists of smooth muscle and elastic tissue, allowing vessels to contract (vasoconstriction) and expand (vasodilation).
CSC Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals 3
A specimen collector notes that a patient's veins are not visible or palpable in the antecubital area.
Which alternative site on the forearm is the next best option?