Vascular anatomy Practice Questions
20 free Vascular anatomy practice questions for the USMLE Step 1. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
A physician compresses the femoral artery to control bleeding from a thigh laceration. Which structure lies immediately medial to the femoral artery within the femoral sheath?
- A Femoral nerve
- B Femoral vein
- C Femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve
- D Deep femoral artery
Correct answer: Femoral vein
The femoral vein lies immediately medial to the femoral artery within the femoral sheath (NAVL: nerve, artery, vein, lymphatics). This relationship is clinically important for vascular access.
A stab wound at the left 2nd intercostal space near the sternal border risks injury to which major vessel?
- A Aortic arch
- B Left subclavian artery
- C Pulmonary trunk
- D Internal thoracic artery
Correct answer: Internal thoracic artery
The left internal thoracic artery courses just lateral to the sternum and can be damaged in parasternal injuries. It is frequently harvested for coronary bypass grafting.
A patient with an anterior elbow laceration has decreased radial pulse strength. Which artery is most likely injured?
- A Radial recurrent artery
- B Common interosseous artery
- C Brachial artery
- D Deep brachial artery
Correct answer: Brachial artery
The brachial artery is superficial at the cubital fossa and is commonly injured by anterior elbow trauma. Injury may compromise radial and ulnar pulses.
A bullet injury damages the artery supplying the head of the femur in an adult. Which artery is most affected?
- A Medial circumflex femoral artery
- B Lateral circumflex femoral artery
- C Obturator artery
- D Inferior gluteal artery
Correct answer: Medial circumflex femoral artery
The medial circumflex femoral artery provides the primary blood supply to the femoral head in adults. Injury can lead to avascular necrosis.
During thyroid surgery, careless ligation of the superior thyroid artery may damage which nerve?
- A Recurrent laryngeal nerve
- B External branch of superior laryngeal nerve
- C Internal branch of superior laryngeal nerve
- D Glossopharyngeal nerve
Correct answer: External branch of superior laryngeal nerve
The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve travels close to the superior thyroid artery. Damage affects pitch modulation due to cricothyroid dysfunction.
A surgeon clamps the splenic artery during pancreatic surgery. Which artery directly branches from the splenic artery?
- A Gastroduodenal artery
- B Short gastric arteries
- C Left gastric artery
- D Right gastroepiploic artery
Correct answer: Short gastric arteries
The splenic artery gives rise to the short gastric arteries. These supply the fundus of the stomach.
A patient with deep venous thrombosis has a clot near the adductor hiatus. Which artery continues as the popliteal artery beyond this opening?
- A Femoral artery
- B Deep femoral artery
- C Obturator artery
- D Internal iliac artery
Correct answer: Femoral artery
The femoral artery becomes the popliteal artery after passing through the adductor hiatus. This transition is clinically important for vascular occlusions.
A patient has ischemia of the midgut. Which artery is primarily affected?
- A Celiac trunk
- B Superior mesenteric artery
- C Inferior mesenteric artery
- D Median sacral artery
Correct answer: Superior mesenteric artery
The superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut, including most of the small intestine and part of the large intestine. SMA occlusion causes severe abdominal ischemia.
A trauma patient has laceration of the artery that runs with the radial nerve in the radial groove. Which artery is likely injured?
- A Deep brachial artery
- B Ulnar artery
- C Superior ulnar collateral artery
- D Anterior circumflex humeral artery
Correct answer: Deep brachial artery
The deep brachial (profunda brachii) artery accompanies the radial nerve in the radial groove. Injury may compromise posterior arm perfusion.
A patient with portal hypertension develops esophageal varices. Which veins form the portosystemic anastomosis in this region?
- A Left gastric vein and azygos vein
- B Superior rectal vein and inferior epigastric vein
- C Splenic vein and lumbar veins
- D Inferior mesenteric vein and renal veins
Correct answer: Left gastric vein and azygos vein
Esophageal varices occur due to communication between the left gastric (portal) and azygos (systemic) veins. These become engorged in portal hypertension.
A knife wound damages the artery running with the tibial nerve in the posterior leg. Which artery is most likely injured?
- A Anterior tibial artery
- B Posterior tibial artery
- C Fibular (peroneal) artery
- D Popliteal artery
Correct answer: Posterior tibial artery
The posterior tibial artery travels with the tibial nerve in the deep posterior compartment. Injury can impair foot perfusion.
A patient sustains a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus. Which artery is at greatest risk?
- A Anterior circumflex humeral artery
- B Posterior circumflex humeral artery
- C Deep brachial artery
- D Radial artery
Correct answer: Posterior circumflex humeral artery
The posterior circumflex humeral artery travels with the axillary nerve around the surgical neck of the humerus. This makes it vulnerable to fracture-related injury.
A patient with trauma to the parotid region loses pulsation of the artery anterior to the ear. Which artery is damaged?
- A Maxillary artery
- B Superficial temporal artery
- C Occipital artery
- D Superior thyroid artery
Correct answer: Superficial temporal artery
The superficial temporal artery is palpable anterior to the ear. It is a terminal branch of the external carotid artery.
A surgeon planning an aortic aneurysm repair reviews major posterior branches of the abdominal aorta. Which artery is a direct posterior branch?
- A Inferior phrenic artery
- B Lumbar arteries
- C Renal arteries
- D Inferior mesenteric artery
Correct answer: Lumbar arteries
The lumbar arteries are posterior branches of the abdominal aorta supplying the posterior abdominal wall. They must be preserved during retroperitoneal surgery.
A patient has trauma to the lateral knee, injuring the artery running with the common fibular nerve. Which artery is most closely associated?
- A Popliteal artery
- B Anterior tibial artery
- C Posterior tibial artery
- D Fibular artery
Correct answer: Fibular artery
The fibular artery lies near the common fibular nerve as it descends along the lateral posterior leg. Injury can impair lateral compartment perfusion.
A physician notes diminished pulse in the dorsalis pedis artery. From which major artery does it originate?
- A Popliteal artery
- B Anterior tibial artery
- C Posterior tibial artery
- D Fibular artery
Correct answer: Anterior tibial artery
The dorsalis pedis artery is the continuation of the anterior tibial artery. It supplies the dorsal foot.
A patient experiences ischemia in the hindgut. Which artery is compromised?
- A Celiac trunk
- B Superior mesenteric artery
- C Inferior mesenteric artery
- D Internal iliac artery
Correct answer: Inferior mesenteric artery
The inferior mesenteric artery supplies the hindgut, including the descending colon and rectum. Occlusion can lead to abdominal pain and ischemia.
A deep laceration to the anatomical snuffbox risks injury to which artery?
- A Ulnar artery
- B Radial artery
- C Posterior interosseous artery
- D Brachial artery
Correct answer: Radial artery
The radial artery passes through the anatomical snuffbox. Trauma to this region may compromise hand perfusion.
A patient presents with epidural hematoma due to injury of an artery passing deep to the pterion. Which artery is responsible?
- A Anterior meningeal artery
- B Middle meningeal artery
- C Posterior cerebral artery
- D Superficial temporal artery
Correct answer: Middle meningeal artery
The middle meningeal artery runs deep to the pterion and is vulnerable to skull fractures. Rupture leads to epidural hematoma.
A trauma patient suffers damage to the vessel that passes between the anterior and middle scalene muscles. Which vessel is this?
- A Subclavian vein
- B Subclavian artery
- C Internal thoracic artery
- D External carotid artery
Correct answer: Subclavian artery
The subclavian artery passes between the anterior and middle scalene muscles. This location is significant in thoracic outlet syndrome.