VABC Vascular Anatomy 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which layer of a blood vessel wall contains smooth muscle and elastic fibers responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation?
- Tunica intima
- Tunica media (Correct answer)
- Tunica adventitia
- Vasa vasorum
Correct answer: Tunica media
The tunica media contains smooth muscle and elastic fibers that regulate vessel diameter through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
Question 2: The cephalic vein runs along which aspect of the forearm and upper arm?
- Medial (ulnar) aspect
- Posterior aspect
- Lateral (radial) aspect (Correct answer)
- Anterior midline
Correct answer: Lateral (radial) aspect
The cephalic vein courses along the lateral (radial) aspect of the forearm and upper arm before emptying into the axillary vein.
Question 3: What is the name of the vessel formed by the union of the radial and ulnar veins in the antecubital fossa?
- Cephalic vein
- Basilic vein
- Brachial vein (Correct answer)
- Median cubital vein
Correct answer: Brachial vein
The brachial vein is formed by the union of the radial and ulnar veins and accompanies the brachial artery in the upper arm.
Question 4: The thoracic duct drains lymph from which side of the body into the venous system?
- Right side only
- Left side only
- Both sides above the diaphragm only
- Most of the body except the right upper quadrant (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Most of the body except the right upper quadrant
The thoracic duct drains lymph from the entire body except the right upper quadrant (right head, neck, arm, and right thorax), which is drained by the right lymphatic duct.
Question 5: Which anatomical landmark identifies the transition from the external jugular vein to the subclavian vein?
- Angle of the mandible
- Clavicle at the midclavicular line
- Junction with the anterior scalene muscle (Correct answer)
- Sternoclavicular joint
Correct answer: Junction with the anterior scalene muscle
The external jugular vein passes over the anterior scalene muscle before joining the subclavian vein, marking this anatomical transition.
Question 6: In the antecubital fossa, the median cubital vein typically connects which two superficial veins?
- Cephalic and basilic veins (Correct answer)
- Brachial and radial veins
- Basilic and axillary veins
- Cephalic and brachial veins
Correct answer: Cephalic and basilic veins
The median cubital vein is an oblique communicating vein that connects the cephalic and basilic veins across the antecubital fossa.
Question 7: What anatomical feature of veins prevents retrograde blood flow?
- Thicker tunica media compared to arteries
- Bicuspid valves at branching points
- Semilunar valves within the lumen (Correct answer)
- Greater elastin content in the tunica intima
Correct answer: Semilunar valves within the lumen
Veins contain semilunar (bicuspid) valves within their lumen that open with antegrade flow and close to prevent retrograde (backward) blood flow.
VABC Vascular Anatomy 2
Which layer of a blood vessel wall contains smooth muscle and elastic fibers responsible for vasoconstriction and vasodilation?