NBSTSA Anatomy & Physiology for Surgical Technology 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The common bile duct is formed by the union of which two structures?
- Right and left hepatic ducts
- Cystic duct and common hepatic duct (Correct answer)
- Pancreatic duct and hepatic duct
- Cystic duct and pancreatic duct
Correct answer: Cystic duct and common hepatic duct
The common bile duct is formed by the junction of the cystic duct (from the gallbladder) and the common hepatic duct (from the liver).
Question 2: Which artery is the primary blood supply to the stomach along its lesser curvature?
- Splenic artery
- Left and right gastric arteries (Correct answer)
- Gastroduodenal artery
- Left gastroepiploic artery
Correct answer: Left and right gastric arteries
The left and right gastric arteries run along the lesser curvature of the stomach and are the primary arterial supply to that region.
Question 3: During a thyroidectomy, which structure must be identified and preserved to prevent hoarseness?
- Superior laryngeal nerve
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve (Correct answer)
- Vagus nerve
- Phrenic nerve
Correct answer: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
The recurrent laryngeal nerve, which runs in the tracheoesophageal groove, controls the vocal cords; injury causes hoarseness or vocal cord paralysis.
Question 4: The femoral triangle contains which three structures (from lateral to medial)?
- Femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein (Correct answer)
- Femoral vein, femoral artery, femoral nerve
- Femoral artery, femoral vein, femoral nerve
- Femoral nerve, femoral vein, femoral artery
Correct answer: Femoral nerve, femoral artery, femoral vein
The femoral triangle contains, from lateral to medial: femoral Nerve, femoral Artery, and femoral Vein (mnemonic: NAVEL — Nerve, Artery, Vein, Empty space, Lymphatics).
Question 5: Which structure must be ligated and divided during appendectomy to remove the appendix?
- Ileocecal valve
- Mesoappendix (containing the appendiceal artery) (Correct answer)
- Ileo-appendiceal fold
- Cecal wall mucosa
Correct answer: Mesoappendix (containing the appendiceal artery)
The mesoappendix contains the appendiceal artery (a branch of the ileocolic artery) and must be ligated and divided to devascularize the appendix before its removal.
Question 6: Which layer of the abdominal wall is opened last when entering the peritoneal cavity during a laparotomy?
- Skin
- Subcutaneous fat (Camper's and Scarpa's fascia)
- Anterior rectus sheath
- Peritoneum (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Peritoneum
The peritoneum is the innermost layer of the abdominal wall; entering it during laparotomy provides access to the peritoneal cavity.
NBSTSA Anatomy & Physiology for Surgical Technology 1
The common bile duct is formed by the union of which two structures?