Thoracic Neurovasculature: Master the Nerves, Arteries, and Veins of the Chest

Question 1

Which artery primarily supplies blood to the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Inferior phrenic artery

Answer

Aorta

Answer

Internal thoracic artery

Answer

Pericardiophrenic artery

Question 2

Which vein drains blood from the front of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Coronary sinus

Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Inferior vena cava

Answer

Azygos vein

Question 3

Which nerve innervates (provides sensation and control to) the intercostal muscles?

Accepted Answer

Intercostal nerves

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Spinal accessory nerve

Question 4

Which lymphatic node group receives lymphatic fluid from the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Tracheobronchial nodes

Answer

Paratracheal nodes

Answer

Cervical nodes

Answer

Axillary nodes

Question 5

Which pulmonary artery supplies the left lung?

Accepted Answer

Left pulmonary artery

Answer

Right pulmonary artery

Answer

Aortic arch

Answer

Superior vena cava

Question 6

Which nerve innervates the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Accessory nerve

Answer

Hypoglossal nerve

Question 7

Which nerve originates from the brachial plexus?

Accepted Answer

Axillary nerve

Answer

Median nerve

Answer

Ulnar nerve

Answer

Sciatic nerve

Question 8

Which large vein carries blood from the upper body and head back to the heart?

Accepted Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Inferior vena cava

Answer

Azygos vein

Answer

Hemiazygos vein

Question 9

Thoracic intercostal arteries and veins exhibit anatomical variations. Describe these variations and their potential implications for surgical procedures.

Accepted Answer

Variations are common, involving altered vessel courses or additional vessels, which surgeons must be aware of to minimize bleeding complications.

Answer

Variations only affect intercostal nerves, not arteries or veins.

Answer

Variations are rare and do not require consideration during surgical procedures.

Answer

Variations never involve the intercostal veins.

Question 10

Which of the following nerves originates from the brachial plexus and innervates the pectoral muscles of the anterior thoracic wall?

Accepted Answer

Long thoracic nerve

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Intercostal nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 11

Which artery is the major arterial supply to the parietal pleura and chest wall?

Accepted Answer

Intercostal artery

Answer

Aorta

Answer

Pulmonary artery

Answer

Bronchial artery

Question 12

What is the primary function of the azygos vein?

Accepted Answer

Drains blood from the posterior intercostal spaces

Answer

Drains blood from the anterior abdominal wall

Answer

Drains blood from the diaphragm

Answer

Drains blood from the lungs

Question 13

What is the name of the opening in the diaphragm through which the aorta transverses?

Accepted Answer

Aortic hiatus

Answer

Esophageal hiatus

Answer

Caval hiatus

Answer

Vena caval foramen

Question 14

What is the main physiological function of the intercostal muscles?

Accepted Answer

Facilitate respiratory movements

Answer

Pump blood to the heart

Answer

Protect abdominal organs

Answer

Move the head and neck

Question 15

Which vein collects oxygenated blood returning from the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary vein

Answer

Azygos vein

Answer

Hemiazygos vein

Answer

Thoracic vein

Question 16

Which anatomical structure interconnects the right and left phrenic nerves?

Accepted Answer

Mediastinal ligament

Answer

Thoracic duct

Answer

Sympathetic chain

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 17

How does damage to the phrenic nerve affect the diaphragm and breathing?

Accepted Answer

It disrupts the nerve's ability to control diaphragm movement, leading to paralysis.

Answer

It restricts blood flow to the diaphragm, causing ischemia.

Answer

It hinders venous drainage from the diaphragm, resulting in congestion.

Answer

It disrupts lymphatic flow in the diaphragm, causing edema.

Question 18

Describe the course of the internal thoracic artery.

Accepted Answer

Descends behind the sternum, supplying the anterior thoracic wall

Answer

Ascends along the inner border of the first rib, supplying the neck

Answer

Traverses the pleural cavity, supplying the lungs

Answer

Arises from the abdominal aorta, supplying the diaphragm

Question 19

Which nerve supplies the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Sympathetic chain

Answer

Accessory nerve

Question 20

What is the primary function of the azygos vein?

Accepted Answer

Drains blood from the posterior intercostal spaces

Answer

Drains blood from the head and neck

Answer

Drains blood from the liver

Answer

Supplies blood to the heart

Question 21

Which artery supplies blood to the esophagus?

Accepted Answer

Esophageal artery

Answer

Internal thoracic artery

Answer

Gastric artery

Answer

Phrenic artery

Question 22

Discuss the clinical significance of the phrenic nerve.

Accepted Answer

Can be affected by lung cancer, causing diaphragmatic paralysis

Answer

Controls movement of the tongue

Answer

Supplies sensory innervation to the skin of the chest

Answer

Regulates heart rate

Question 23

Which vein receives the accessory hemiazygos vein?

Accepted Answer

Azygos vein

Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Inferior vena cava

Answer

Internal jugular vein

Question 24

What is the embryological origin of the intercostal nerves?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal rami of spinal nerves

Answer

Ventral rami of spinal nerves

Answer

Sympathetic chain

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 25

Which of the following nerves innervates the diaphragm and originates from the cervical plexus?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

T1 nerve

Answer

L1 nerve

Question 26

Which of the following arteries supplies the heart and originates from the aortic arch?

Accepted Answer

Coronary artery

Answer

Subclavian artery

Answer

Brachiocephalic artery

Answer

Internal thoracic artery

Question 27

Which of the following structures is located in the mediastinum and contains the heart, great vessels, and trachea?

Accepted Answer

Mediastinal space

Answer

Pericardium

Answer

Pleural cavity

Answer

Thoracic cavity

Question 28

Which of the following nerves is responsible for transmitting pain signals from the heart to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Spinal nerve

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Question 29

Which of the following arteries supplies blood to the upper extremities and originates from the aortic arch?

Accepted Answer

Subclavian artery

Answer

Brachial artery

Answer

Radial artery

Answer

Ulnar artery

Question 30

Which of the following veins drains blood from the lungs and empties into the left atrium of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary vein

Answer

Systemic vein

Answer

Hepatic vein

Answer

Renal vein

Question 31

Which of the following nerves is the largest in the body and innervates the muscles of the lower extremities?

Accepted Answer

Sciatic nerve

Answer

Femoral nerve

Answer

Tibial nerve

Answer

Peroneal nerve

Question 32

Which nerve supplies motor innervation to the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Brachial plexus

Answer

Intercostal nerves

Question 33

Which artery primarily supplies the posterior intercostal spaces?

Accepted Answer

Intercostal arteries

Answer

Aorta

Answer

Subclavian artery

Answer

Axillary artery

Question 34

Which vein drains the majority of the blood from the right lung?

Accepted Answer

Azygos vein

Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Inferior vena cava

Answer

Hemiazygos vein

Question 35

Which structure forms the boundary between the thoracic and abdominal cavities?

Accepted Answer

Diaphragm

Answer

Pleura

Answer

Pericardium

Answer

Mediastinum

Question 36

Which artery gives rise to the left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery?

Accepted Answer

Brachiocephalic artery

Answer

Subclavian artery

Answer

Aorta

Answer

Pulmonary artery

Question 37

Which vein primarily drains the left upper extremity?

Accepted Answer

Subclavian vein

Answer

Brachiocephalic vein

Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Axillary vein

Question 38

Which nerve innervates the subclavius muscle?

Accepted Answer

Suprascapular nerve

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Long thoracic nerve

Answer

Axillary nerve

Question 39

Which structure houses the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels in the thoracic cavity?

Accepted Answer

Mediastinum

Answer

Pericardium

Answer

Pleura

Answer

Diaphragm

Question 40

Which nerve exclusively innervates the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Sympathetic trunk

Answer

Spinal accessory nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 41

Identify the largest artery that traverses the thorax.

Accepted Answer

Aorta

Answer

Pulmonary artery

Answer

Subclavian artery

Answer

Axillary artery

Question 42

Specify the nerve roots that form the brachial plexus.

Accepted Answer

Cervical and thoracic spinal nerves

Answer

Trigeminal and facial nerves

Answer

Glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves

Answer

Lumbar and sacral spinal nerves

Question 43

From which nerve does the recurrent laryngeal nerve originate?

Accepted Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Spinal nerve

Answer

Brachial plexus

Answer

Sympathetic chain

Question 44

What anatomical structure envelops and protects the heart?

Accepted Answer

Pericardium

Answer

Diaphragm

Answer

Pleura

Answer

Mediastinum

Question 45

Which nerve exclusively innervates the diaphragm?

Accepted Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Median nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Spinal accessory nerve

Question 46

Which artery solely supplies oxygenated blood to the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Pulmonary artery

Answer

Aortic arch

Answer

Intercostal artery

Answer

Brachiocephalic artery

Question 47

Which nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to the heart?

Accepted Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Trochlear nerve

Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Question 48

Which veins drain blood from the head and neck regions?

Accepted Answer

Jugular veins

Answer

Portal vein

Answer

Saphenous vein

Answer

Axillary vein

Question 49

Which spinal nerves combine to form the brachial plexus?

Accepted Answer

C5-T1 spinal nerves

Answer

III-VI cranial nerves

Answer

S1-S5 sacral nerves

Answer

L1-L5 lumbar nerves

Question 50

Which vein carries deoxygenated blood from the upper body and empties into the right atrium?

Accepted Answer

Superior vena cava

Answer

Inferior vena cava

Answer

Pulmonary vein

Answer

Portal vein