Vascular Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards

A patient develops a palpable cord-like induration along the course of a peripheral IV site vein. This finding is MOST consistent with:

Answer: Thrombophlebitis

A palpable cord-like induration along a vein indicates thrombophlebitis, where clot formation and inflammation have occurred within the vessel wall.

The right lymphatic duct drains lymph from which region of the body?

Answer: Right upper quadrant of the body

The right lymphatic duct drains only the right upper quadrant (right arm, right side of head/neck, right thorax), while the thoracic duct drains everywhere else.

Which of the following best describes the Windkessel effect?

Answer: Arterial compliance buffering pulsatile flow into a more continuous flow

The Windkessel effect describes how elastic large arteries expand during systole and recoil during diastole, converting pulsatile cardiac output into more continuous flow.

In ultrasound-guided vascular access, a vein is distinguished from an artery primarily because veins are:

Answer: Compressible with gentle probe pressure

Veins collapse (compress) easily with gentle probe pressure because of their low intraluminal pressure and thin walls, unlike arteries which resist compression.

Which term describes the phenomenon where flow velocity increases as blood passes through a stenotic vessel segment?

Answer: Bernoulli effect

The Bernoulli effect describes the inverse relationship between pressure and velocity; as a stenotic segment narrows, blood must accelerate to maintain flow continuity.

The innominate (brachiocephalic) vein is formed by the union of which two vessels?

Answer: Subclavian and internal jugular veins

The brachiocephalic (innominate) vein is formed by the union of the subclavian vein and the internal jugular vein on each side of the neck.

Endothelial cells lining blood vessels actively prevent clot formation under normal conditions primarily by releasing:

Answer: Prostacyclin (PGI2) and nitric oxide

Healthy endothelium releases prostacyclin and nitric oxide, which inhibit platelet aggregation and promote vasodilation, maintaining a non-thrombogenic surface.