Vascular Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

Which of the following describes the vasa vasorum?

Answer: Small vessels supplying the walls of large blood vessels

The vasa vasorum are small blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the walls of larger blood vessels, particularly in the tunica adventitia and outer media.

When a patient's arm is placed in a dependent position, venous pressure in the antecubital fossa increases primarily due to:

Answer: Hydrostatic pressure from the column of blood

Placing the arm in a dependent position adds hydrostatic pressure (the weight of the blood column) to venous pressure, making veins more engorged and visible.

Which nerve runs in close proximity to the basilic vein in the medial upper arm, making deep basilic vein access potentially risky?

Answer: Median nerve

The median nerve runs near the basilic vein in the upper arm, and inadvertent puncture or compression can cause paresthesia or nerve injury.

The thoracic duct drains lymph into which vascular structure?

Answer: Left subclavian vein at the junction with the left internal jugular vein

The thoracic duct empties into the venous system at the junction of the left subclavian and left internal jugular veins, returning lymph to circulation.

Poiseuille's Law states that blood flow through a vessel is most sensitive to changes in:

Answer: Vessel radius

Poiseuille's Law shows flow is proportional to the fourth power of the radius, making small changes in radius have a dramatic effect on flow rate.

Which structure separates the subclavian vein from the subclavian artery in the thoracic outlet?

Answer: Anterior scalene muscle

The anterior scalene muscle lies between the subclavian vein (anterior) and the subclavian artery (posterior), an important landmark for central venous access.

Venous capacitance refers to the ability of veins to:

Answer: Store large volumes of blood with minimal pressure change

Veins are highly compliant (capacitance vessels) and can hold up to 70% of total blood volume with little increase in pressure due to their thin, distensible walls.