VA-BC Vascular Anatomy & Physiology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following veins is typically the DEEPEST and most medial vein in the antecubital fossa, often preferred for PICC insertion?
- Cephalic vein
- Median cubital vein
- Basilic vein (Correct answer)
- Median antebrachial vein
Correct answer: Basilic vein
The basilic vein is the largest and deepest medial vein at the antecubital fossa and is preferred for PICC insertion because of its size and more direct path to central circulation.
Question 2: Collateral circulation refers to:
- The redundant arterial supply created by anastomoses when a primary vessel is obstructed (Correct answer)
- Venous tributaries draining into the portal system
- Capillary recruitment during high metabolic demand
- Lymphatic bypass of obstructed lymph nodes
Correct answer: The redundant arterial supply created by anastomoses when a primary vessel is obstructed
Collateral circulation is the network of alternative vessels that can enlarge and reroute blood flow when a primary vessel becomes occluded, limiting ischemic injury.
Question 3: The mean arterial pressure (MAP) is calculated using which formula?
- (Systolic + Diastolic) / 2
- Diastolic + 1/3 (Pulse Pressure) (Correct answer)
- Systolic – Diastolic
- 2 × Diastolic + Systolic / 3
Correct answer: Diastolic + 1/3 (Pulse Pressure)
MAP = Diastolic BP + 1/3 (Systolic – Diastolic), reflecting that diastole occupies approximately two-thirds of the cardiac cycle at normal heart rates.
Question 4: Venous stasis, endothelial injury, and hypercoagulability are collectively known as:
- Starling's Law
- Virchow's Triad (Correct answer)
- Frank-Starling Mechanism
- Laplace's Law
Correct answer: Virchow's Triad
Virchow's Triad describes the three major risk factors for thrombosis: venous stasis, endothelial damage, and a hypercoagulable state.
Question 5: Which vessel is palpated to confirm arterial versus venous placement when inserting a central venous catheter at the internal jugular site?
- Common carotid artery (Correct answer)
- External carotid artery
- Vertebral artery
- Facial artery
Correct answer: Common carotid artery
The common carotid artery is palpated medially to the internal jugular vein and serves as a landmark to avoid arterial puncture during IJ central line insertion.
Question 6: Oncotic pressure (colloid osmotic pressure) within capillaries is primarily maintained by:
- Sodium and chloride ions
- Plasma albumin (Correct answer)
- Red blood cell hemoglobin
- Dissolved glucose
Correct answer: Plasma albumin
Albumin, the most abundant plasma protein, is the principal contributor to oncotic pressure, drawing fluid back into capillaries from interstitial spaces.
Question 7: Which term describes the process by which leukocytes roll along and adhere to activated endothelium before migrating to sites of inflammation?
- Diapedesis
- Margination and pavementing (Correct answer)
- Opsonization
- Chemotaxis
Correct answer: Margination and pavementing
Margination and pavementing describe leukocyte rolling and adhesion to endothelium via selectins and integrins, a prerequisite step before diapedesis into tissues.
VA-BC Vascular Anatomy & Physiology 5
Which of the following veins is typically the DEEPEST and most medial vein in the antecubital fossa, often preferred for PICC insertion?