VT Anatomy & Physiology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which layer of the arterial wall contains smooth muscle cells and is primarily responsible for vasoconstriction?
- Tunica intima
- Tunica media (Correct answer)
- Tunica adventitia
- Subendothelial layer
Correct answer: Tunica media
The tunica media contains smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers that regulate vessel diameter through vasoconstriction and vasodilation.
Question 2: The celiac artery is the first unpaired branch of the abdominal aorta and supplies blood to which organs?
- Kidneys and adrenal glands
- Liver, stomach, and spleen (Correct answer)
- Small intestine and ascending colon
- Descending colon and rectum
Correct answer: Liver, stomach, and spleen
The celiac artery (celiac trunk) divides into the left gastric, splenic, and common hepatic arteries, supplying the liver, stomach, and spleen.
Question 3: Which valve prevents backflow of blood from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle?
- Tricuspid valve
- Mitral valve
- Pulmonic (pulmonary) valve (Correct answer)
- Aortic valve
Correct answer: Pulmonic (pulmonary) valve
The pulmonic valve, a semilunar valve, closes during ventricular diastole to prevent regurgitation of blood from the pulmonary artery back into the right ventricle.
Question 4: What is the primary function of the vasa vasorum?
- Regulate arterial pressure
- Supply nutrients to the walls of large vessels (Correct answer)
- Drain lymph from vessel adventitia
- Sense stretch and trigger baroreceptor reflexes
Correct answer: Supply nutrients to the walls of large vessels
Vasa vasorum are tiny blood vessels within the walls of large arteries and veins that supply oxygen and nutrients to the tunica media and adventitia.
Question 5: The profunda femoris (deep femoral) artery typically originates from which vessel?
- External iliac artery
- Popliteal artery
- Common femoral artery (Correct answer)
- Internal iliac artery
Correct answer: Common femoral artery
The profunda femoris arises from the posterolateral aspect of the common femoral artery, approximately 3–5 cm below the inguinal ligament.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the normal direction of blood flow in the vertebral veins?
- Cephalad toward the brain
- Caudad toward the subclavian vein (Correct answer)
- Bidirectional depending on respiration
- From the internal jugular to the vertebral vein
Correct answer: Caudad toward the subclavian vein
Vertebral veins drain caudally from the cervical vertebral venous plexus into the brachiocephalic (innominate) vein via the subclavian vein.
Question 7: Starling's law of the heart states that increased ventricular end-diastolic volume results in:
- Decreased stroke volume
- Increased stroke volume (Correct answer)
- Decreased heart rate
- Increased peripheral resistance
Correct answer: Increased stroke volume
Starling's law (Frank-Starling mechanism) states that the greater the ventricular filling (preload), the greater the force of contraction and resulting stroke volume.
VT Anatomy & Physiology 2
Which layer of the arterial wall contains smooth muscle cells and is primarily responsible for vasoconstriction?