Human Anatomy and Physiology : Gross Anatomy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Human Anatomy and Physiology

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

A 19-year old man was crossing the street when he was struck by a car turning the corner. He is brought to the trauma bay with an open right tib-fib fracture (both tibia and fibula fractured). The man is brought to the OR for intramedullary nailing. After placing the rod, the surgeon decides to check muscle compartment pressures for compartment syndrome. What are the four muscle compartments in the leg?

Possible Answers:

Dorsal, palmar, medial, lateral

Anteromedial, anterolateral, superficial posterior, deep posterior

Anterior, lateral, superficial posterior, deep posterior

Anterior, lateral, medial, posterior

Dorsal, plantar, lateral, posterior

Correct answer:

Anterior, lateral, superficial posterior, deep posterior

Explanation:

The four leg compartments are anterior, lateral, superficial posterior, and deep posterior.

The anterior compartment contains muscles, nerves, and vessels for dorsiflexion. From medial to lateral, these are the: tibialis anterior, extensor hallucis longus, anterior tibial artery, deep peroneal nerve, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneus tertius. The lateral compartment consists of the peroneus longus and brevis, and superficial peroneal nerve for feet eversion. The superficial posterior compartment is for plantarflexion, consisting of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles and the sural nerve. The deep posterior compartment contains the tibialis posterior, flexor digitorum longus, posterior tibial artery and vein, tibial nerve, and flexor hallucis longus.

All of these compartments need to be evaluated when a tibia fracture occurs, as pressures could rise and cut off nerve and/or vascular supply.

Example Question #721 : Gross Anatomy

Which of the following does not contain apocrine sweat glands?

Possible Answers:

Areola of the breast

Ear canal

Axilla

Perianal region

Fingers

Correct answer:

Fingers

Explanation:

There are two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine. Apocrine sweat glands are slightly larger and open into hair follicles. They produce an odorous, thicker fluid in comparison to eccrine glands. Apocrine glands are located at the perianal, axillary, and areolar regions on the body, as well as the ear canal and eyelids. The ear canals and eyelids house modified apocrine sweat glands that produce specialized secretions.

Eccrine sweat glands are located basically everywhere and open onto the skin surface. The fluid produced is more viscous, containing water, sodium chloride, urea, ammonia, and uric acid.

Example Question #722 : Gross Anatomy

How many chambers does the heart have?

Possible Answers:

Four

Three

Five

Two

Correct answer:

Four

Explanation:

The heart is the pump that distributes oxygenated blood throughout the body and is enclosed in a sac known as the pericardium. The pericardial sac is made of the fibrous and serous pericardium. The heart has four chambers, which are divided by septums to prevent exchange of blood between adjacent chambers. The chambers of the heart are the right atrium, right ventricle, left artium, and left ventricle. The right atrium receives blood from the superior and inferior vena cavae. Blood then passes from the right atrium to the reight ventrical via the tricuspid valve. The right ventricle pumps blood into the pulmonary arteries for transport tot he lungs to receive oxygen. Following gas exchange, the pulmonary veins return the blood to the left atrium of the heart. The blood them passes through the bicuspid (mitral) valve before entering the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps the blood into the aorta to be carried through arteries to the tissues of the body.

Example Question #723 : Gross Anatomy

Which of the following structures is found in the middle mediastinum?

Possible Answers:

Trachea

Esophagus

Arch of the aorta

Heart

Correct answer:

Heart

Explanation:

The middle mediastinum is the area bordered by the left and right pleural cavities. The major structures found within the middle division are the heart, the pericardium, the main bronchus, phrenic nerves, arch of the azygos vein, and the vessels coming out of the heart such as the aorta, pulmonary arteries, and veins. The arch of the aorta and the trachea are found in the superior mediastinum. The esophagus is found in the superior and posterior mediastinum.

Example Question #11 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

What nerve innervates the majority of the anterior arm?

Possible Answers:

Axillary nerve

Median nerve

Ulnar nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve 

Correct answer:

Musculocutaneous nerve 

Explanation:

The musculocutaneous nerve arises from the lateral cord of the brachial plexus. It innervates the biceps brachii, the coracobrachialis, and the brachialis muscle. All of these are muscles of the anterior arm. 

Example Question #13 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

Where in the heart is the sinoatrial node located? 

Possible Answers:

Crista terminalis

Right ventricle

Papillary muscles 

Interventricular septum 

Correct answer:

Crista terminalis

Explanation:

The crista terminalis is a specialized region in the upper part of the right atrium. It houses the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is responsible for initiating the electrical impulses that cause the heart to contract.

Example Question #251 : Organs

What valve is located between the right atrium and the right ventricle? 

Possible Answers:

Mitral valve

Pulmonary valve

Bicuspid valve

Tricuspid valve

Correct answer:

Tricuspid valve

Explanation:

The tricuspid valve separates the right atrium and the right ventricle. The bicuspid, or mitral, valve is located between the left atrium and left ventricle. The pulmonary valve is a semilunar valve that prevents backflow of blood from the pulmonary veins into the right ventricle.

Example Question #14 : Identifying Other Anatomical Structures

Arrange the cardiac structures below from superficial to deep.

1. Visceral pericardium

2. Endocardium

3. Myocardium

4. Parietal pericardium

5. Epicardium

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The pericardium lines the outside of the heart and serves as a protective covering sac that holds the heart in place within the mediastinum. The parietal pericardium layer is the superficial layer of the serous pericardium, while the visceral pericardium covers and adheres to the heart directly. The heart wall itself is composed of three layers. The outermost layer is the epicardium, which functions to lubricate the heart. The thick middle layer is the myocardium and is a specialized form of cardiac muscle responsible for continuously pumping out blood. Finally, the innermost layer of the heart is the endocardium, which serves a protective role in covering inner heart valves.

Example Question #724 : Gross Anatomy

What are the branches to the common bile duct?

Possible Answers:

Left hepatic duct and right hepatic duct

Left hepatic duct and pancreatic duct

Pancreatic duct and cystic duct

Common hepatic duct and cystic duct

Correct answer:

Common hepatic duct and cystic duct

Explanation:

The common bile duct stems from the joining of the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct. The common hepatic duct comes from the left and right hepatic ducts and lobes of the liver. The cystic duct comes from the gall bladder. These two ducts become the common bile duct which drains into the duodenum.

Example Question #728 : Human Anatomy And Physiology

Give the correct order of sound from stimulus to hearing.

Possible Answers:

None of these

Auditory canal  pinna  eardrum  ossicles  cochlea

Ossicles  cochlea  pinna  auditory canal  eardrum

Pinna  auditory canal  eardrum  ossicles  cochlea

Cochlea  auditory canal  pinna  ossicles  eardrum

Correct answer:

Pinna  auditory canal  eardrum  ossicles  cochlea

Explanation:

The correct pathway of sound is from the outer portion of the ear, the pinna, to the auditory canal (the hole of the ear), to the eardrum, ossicles, and finally to the cochlea where the process of hearing actually beings. The structures prior to the cochlea are all involved in transmitting or "catching" sound and not interpretation. The cochlea is part of the inner ear. Note that the brain is where auditory processing actually occurs. 

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