1. An arteriogram performed on one of your patients revealed significant arterial disease (atherosclerosis) of the proximal 3 cm of the superior mesenteric artery, which narrowed the angle between the artery and the aorta. What structure normally crosses the aorta below the artery and is at risk of compression in this patient?
A. Left renal vein
B. Second part of the duodenum
C. Jejunum
D. Transverse colon
E. Pancreas
2. A 12-year-old girl is seen in the emergency department for the suspicion of appendicitis. However, her pain is vague, and she doesn’t complain when you gently press on her abdominal wall in the lower right quadrant. You are undeterred in your diagnosis, however, because you know that pain from an inflamed appendix refers first to another area of the abdomen based on its embryonic origins. Which of the following is true regarding referred pain from the appendix?
A. As part of the embryonic foregut, pain is referred to the epigastric region.
B. As part of the embryonic midgut, pain is referred to the epigastric region.
C. As part of the embryonic midgut, pain is referred to the periumbilical region.
D. As part of the embryonic hindgut, pain is referred to the hypogastric region.
E. As part of the embryonic hindgut, pain is referred to the periumbilical region.
3. A renal abscess can irritate the nerves of the posterior abdominal wall. This is often referred to the dermatome that runs just above the inguinal ligament from the iliac crest to the pubis. Which nerves transmit this irritation?
A. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
B. Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves
C. Femoral nerve
D. Inferior phrenic nerve
E. T10 intercostal nerve
4. Which of the following is true regarding the renal vessels?
A. The right renal artery passes posterior to the inferior vena cava.
B. Both renal veins receive tributaries from the suprarenal glands.
C. The left renal vein is shorter than the right renal vein.
D. Renal arteries are the most anterior structure in the renal hilum.
E. Renal arteries arise from the aorta at the L4 vertebral level.
5. During a colectomy on a patient with colon cancer, you ask a medical student to describe characteristics of the descending colon. Her correct answer would include that it
A. is supplied primarily by branches of the superior mesenteric artery
B. receives parasympathetic innervation by the vagus nerve
C. is marked by three teniae coli on its outer surface
D. is primarily retroperitoneal
E. is derived from the embryonic midgut
6. The external oblique muscle and aponeurosis contribute to the formation of all except which of the following structures?
A. Umbilical ring
B. Linea alba
C. Conjoined tendon
D. Inguinal ligament
E. Superficial inguinal ring
7. Which of the following is true regarding the relations of the pancreas?
A. The splenic artery runs along its inferior border.
B. The portal vein forms anterior to the neck and body.
C. The neck crosses the midline slightly superior to the transpyloric plane.
D. The accessory pancreatic duct drains inferiorly to the horizontal part of the duodenum.
E. It lies on the posterior wall of the omental bursa.
8. The artery that supplies blood directly to the pyloric region of the stomach is the
A. left gastric artery
B. short gastric artery
C. right gastric artery
D. left gastro-omental artery
E. superior pancreaticoduodenal artery
9. Inferior to the arcuate line, the posterior layer of the rectus sheath is composed of the
A. aponeurosis of the external oblique muscle
B. aponeurosis of the internal oblique muscle
C. aponeurosis of the transversus abdominis muscle
D. transversalis fascia
E. All of the above
10. One of your elderly patients has lost significant weight and complains of abdominal pain following meals. You know that his inferior mesenteric artery was ligated several years ago as part of an aortic aneurysm repair, and imaging reveals that his superior mesenteric artery is now severely narrowed at its origin. As a result, anastomosing vessels between the celiac trunk and the superior mesenteric artery are enlarged. What vessels are involved in this anastomosis?
A. Marginal artery
B. Pancreaticoduodenal arteries
C. Gastro-omental artery
D. Proper hepatic arteries
E. Left gastric artery
11. A 46-year-old waitress is admitted to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain due to peritonitis from a ruptured duodenal ulcer. Imaging reveals an abscess in one of the peritoneal recesses. Which of the following is the lowest space within the peritoneal cavity where fluid accumulation and abscess formation are most likely to occur in a bedridden patient?
A. Omental bursa
B. Infracolic compartment
C. Left paracolic gutter
D. Subphrenic recess
E. Hepatorenal recess
12. A young mother is determined to get into shape following the birth of her first child. She was humiliated in aerobics class when she could no longer do the required sit-ups. Strengthening which of the following muscles would help her accomplish this exercise?
A. External oblique
B. Internal oblique
C. Rectus abdominis
D. Psoas major
E. All of the above
13. Which of the following vessels are involved in the venous drainage of the liver?
A. Portal vein
B. Hepatic vein
C. Ductus venosus
D. Umbilical vein
E. All of the above
14. In patients who have conditions that affect the peritoneal cavity, such as an inflammation due to a perforated gastric ulcer, the abdominal wall muscles, in a “defense” reflex, become rigid and can be encountered as such during physical examination. Which of the following nerves contribute sensory and motor branches to this defense mechanism?
A. Phrenic nerve
B. Vagus nerve
C. Intercostal nerves
D. Lumbar splanchnic nerves.
E. Greater splanchnic nerve
15. A pediatric surgeon is performing an appendectomy on a 10-year-old child, but upon entering the abdomen he finds a healthy appendix. With further exploration he finds an inflamed finger of bowel originating from the ileum ~2 feet from the ileocecal valve. It is connected to the umbilicus by a fibrous stalk. What embryonic structure failed to degenerate in this patient?
A. Ductus venosus
B. Umbilical vein
C. Umbilical artery
D. Omphalomesenteric duct
E. Urachus
16. One of your patients suffers from multisystem disease as a result of his poor diet and long-term alcoholism. He exhibits many symptoms of chronic portal hypertension, but you suspect that some of his other symptoms have a different underlying cause. Which of the following symptoms are probably not associated with his portal hypertension?
A. Esophageal varices
B. Enlarged spleen
C. Rectal varices
D. Renal calculi
E. Ascites (fluid in the peritoneal cavity)
17. A 6-month-old boy underwent surgery for an indirect inguinal hernia. The surgeon opened the superficial inguinal ring and located the hernia sac, which protruded through the abdominal wall
A. below the inguinal ligament
B. medial to the inferior epigastric vessels
C. within the inguinal triangle
D. at the deep inguinal ring
E. above the conjoined tendon
18. Which of the following arteries supply branches to the stomach?
A. Splenic artery
B. Superior mesenteric artery
C. Renal artery
D. Marginal artery
E. Middle colic artery
19. Your neighbor was recently diagnosed with liver cancer. His doctor explained that, because the primary tumor was in the bare area, it metastasized quickly to the posterior mediastinum and supraclavicular nodes. You recall that, although most lymph from the liver drains toward the celiac nodes and intestinal trunks, the bare area drains to bronchomediastinal trunks in the thorax. What is the bare area?
A. An area on the diaphragmatic surface bounded by coronary and triangular ligaments
B. The area of liver that lines the gallbladder fossa
C. An area on the visceral surface surrounding the porta hepatis
D. The space between the leaflets of the falciform ligament
E. A subperitoneal fibrous capsule that covers the surface of the liver
20. A 58-year-old postal worker complained to his physician that he noticed a swelling in his scrotum that felt similar to “a bag of worms,” that was present during the day but disappeared in the morning. On examination you are able to diagnose a varicocele of the pampiniform plexus that drains his left testis. What is the venous drainage of the testes?
A. The right testis drains to the inferior vena cava; the left testis drains to the left common iliac vein.
B. The right testis drains to the inferior vena cava; the left testis drains to the left renal vein.
C. The right testis drains to the right renal vein; the left testis drains to the inferior vena cava.
D. Both testes drain to ipsilateral renal veins.
E. Both testes drain to the inferior vena cava.
21. In portal hypertension portocaval anastomoses allow portal blood to divert into the systemic system. These anastomoses might involve the
A. pancreaticoduodenal vein
B. periumbilical veins
C. renal vein
D. testicular vein
E. None of the above
22. The bile duct is most often formed by the
A. right and left hepatic ducts
B. cystic duct and common hepatic duct
C. main pancreatic duct and common hepatic duct
D. hepatopancreatic duct and cystic duct
E. main pancreatic duct and cystic duct
23. Within the testis, sperm are produced in the
A. epididymis
B. tunica albuginea
C. ductus deferens
D. rete testis
E. seminiferous tubules
24. Lateral aortic lymph nodes
A. drain to intestinal trunks
B. include superior mesenteric nodes
C. receive lymph from the ovaries and testes
D. receive lymph from the pancreas
E. bypass the cisterna chyli (chyle cistern) and drain directly into the thoracic duct
25. A man presented to his physician’s office with the complaint of severe intermittent pain in the upper right quadrant of his abdomen. You recognize his condition as biliary colic due to gallstones lodged at the entrance to the gallbladder. What valve or sphincter maintains the opening of the cystic duct?
A. Spiral valve
B. Ileocecal valve
C. Pyloric sphincter
D. Sphincter of Oddi
E. Major duodenal papilla
26. You routinely perform vasectomies at the free clinic in your area. You make a small incision at the top of the scrotum to access the spermatic cord. Ligation of which of the cord structures would be most effective in preventing the transmission of sperm?
A. Testicular artery
B. Pampiniform plexus
C. Urachus
D. Ductus deferens
E. Epididymis
27. Sympathetic innervation of abdominal viscera is provided by
A. pelvic splanchnic nerves
B. vagus nerve
C. lumbar splanchnic nerves
D. subcostal nerve
E. lumbar plexus
28. Which of the following structures forms as an intraperitoneal organ but becomes secondarily retroperitoneal during later development?
A. Aorta
B. Pancreas
C. Spleen
D. Transverse colon
E. Kidney
29. Which of the following are reflections or remnants of peritoneum?
A. Gerota’s fascia
B. Tunica albuginea
C. Glisson’s capsule
D. Lesser omentum
E. Medial umbilical ligament
30. Which of the following are tributaries of the inferior vena cava?
A. Inferior mesenteric vein
B. Lumbar vein
C. Left gastric vein
D. Inferior mesenteric vein
E. Superior rectal vein
Answers and Explanations
1. A The left renal vein passes under the superior mesenteric artery as it crosses the aorta and can be compressed in the narrow angle (Section 9.4a).
B The second part of the duodenum lies on the right side of the vertebral column and doesn’t cross the aorta.
C The jejunum is suspended by the mesentery that contains the superior mesenteric artery.
D The transverse colon is suspended from the transverse mesocolon and lies anterior to the superior mesenteric artery.
E The pancreas lies anterior to the superior mesenteric artery.
2. C The appendix is derived from the embryonic midgut, which refers pain to the periumbilical region (Section 9.1).
A The appendix is derived from the embryonic midgut, not the foregut.
B Midgut structures refer pain to the periumbilical region; foregut structures refer pain to the epigastric region.
D The appendix is derived from the embryonic midgut, not the hindgut.
E Pain from the appendix is referred to the periumbilical region, but it is not part of the embryonic hindgut.
3. B The pain is felt in the L1 dermatome innervated by the ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves (Section 7.2d).
A The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve transmits sensation from the lateral thigh.
C The femoral nerve transmits sensation from the anterior thigh.
D The inferior phrenic nerve transmits sensation from the inferior surface of the diaphragm.
E The T10 intercostal nerve transmits sensation from the T10 dermatome at the level of the umbilicus.
4. A The right renal artery is longer than the left and passes posterior to the inferior vena cava (Section 9.4a).
B The left suprarenal gland drains into the left renal vein, but the right suprarenal gland drains into the inferior vena cava.
C The left renal vein crosses the aorta and is longer than the right renal vein.
D At the renal hilum the renal veins are anterior to the renal arteries. The renal pelvis is the most posterior structure.
E Renal arteries arise from the aorta at the L1/L2 vertebral level.
5. C The teniae coli, three longitudinal bands of muscle, are characteristics of the entire large intestine (Section 9.2c).
A Branches of the inferior mesenteric artery supply the descending colon.
B Pelvic splanchnic nerves provide parasympathetic innervation to the descending colon.
D The descending colon forms with the gastrointestinal tract as an intraperitoneal organ and loses its mesentery during later development, becoming secondarily retroperitoneal.
E The descending colon is part of the embryonic hindgut.
6. C The conjoined tendon is formed by the aponeuroses of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles (Section 7.1b).
A The umbilical ring, a remnant of the opening for the umbilical cord, interrupts the linea alba at the L4 vertebral level.
B The linea alba is a tendinous raphe formed in the midline by the aponeuroses of the three anterior abdominal wall muscles.
D The lower edge of the external oblique muscle is thickened and curved inward to form the inguinal ligament.
E The superficial inguinal ring is a defect in the aponeurosis of the external oblique muscles that allows passage of the spermatic cord.
7. E The pancreas lies behind the stomach on the posterior wall of the omental bursa (Section 9.3c).
A The splenic artery runs along the superior border of the pancreas.
B The portal vein forms by the union of the splenic and superior mesenteric veins posterior to the neck of the pancreas.
C The neck and body cross the midline slightly below the transpyloric plane at approximately the L2 vertebral level.
D The accessory pancreatic duct drains into the descending part of the duodenum, superior to the drainage of the main pancreatic duct.
8. C The right gastric artery, a branch of the proper hepatic artery, supplies the pyloric region (Sections 8.2a and 9.2a).
A The left gastric artery supplies blood to the cardiac part of the stomach and the gastroesophageal sphincter.
B The short gastric arteries supply blood to the fundus of the stomach.
D The left gastro-omental artery supplies blood to the greater curvature of the stomach and the greater omentum.
E The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery supplies blood to the descending duodenum and the head of the pancreas.
9. D Inferior to the arcuate line, the posterior wall of the rectus sheath is composed of transversalis fascia (Section 7.1b).
A The external oblique muscle only contributes to the anterior layer of the rectus sheath.
B The internal oblique muscle forms part of the posterior layer of the rectus sheath above the arcuate line and part of the anterior layer of the rectus sheath below the arcuate line.
C The transversus abdominis forms part of the anterior layer of the rectus sheath below the arcuate line.
E Not applicable.
10. B The superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries arise from the gastroduodenal artery (a secondary branch of the celiac trunk). The inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries arise from the superior mesenteric artery. These vessels anastomose within the head of the pancreas and can enlarge significantly to form an effective collateral pathway (Section 8.2a).
A The marginal artery establishes a collateral circulation between the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries but does not communicate directly with branches of the celiac trunk.
C The gastro-omental arteries anastomose with the gastroduodenal and splenic arteries but do not communicate with the superior mesenteric artery.
D The proper hepatic artery anastomoses with the left gastric artery through its right gastric branch but it does not communicate directly with the superior mesenteric artery.
E The left gastric artery anastomoses with the hepatic and splenic arteries but does not communicate directly with the superior mesenteric artery.
11. E The hepatorenal recess, which is continuous with the subphrenic recess, is the lowest and most gravity-dependent space in the peritoneal cavity. Therefore, it is a common site for fluid collection and abscess formation (Section 8.1d).
A Fluid from the omental bursa flows into the hepatorenal recess.
B The infracolic compartment lies below the transverse mesocolon and is separated into right and left sides by the mesentery of the small intestine. Fluid in this space can drain to the paracolic gutters and the pelvis.
C Fluid in the left paracolic gutter would likely drain to the pelvis.
D Fluid in the subphrenic recess drains to the more gravity-dependent hepatorenal recess in the supine patient.
12. E The external oblique, internal oblique, and rectus abdominis muscles flex the trunk when acting bilaterally and help stabilize the pelvis. The psoas major assists in raising the trunk from the supine position (Section 7.1b).
A The external oblique muscles flex the trunk when acting bilaterally and help stabilize the pelvis. B through D are also correct (E).
B The internal oblique muscles flex the trunk when acting bilaterally and help stabilize the pelvis. A, C, and D are also correct (E).
C The rectus abdominis flexes the trunk, compresses the abdomen, and stabilizes the pelvis. A, B, and D are also correct (E).
D The psoas major flexes the hip and assists in raising the trunk from the supine position. A through C are also correct (E).
13. B Three hepatic veins of the liver drain into the inferior vena cava immediately below the diaphragm (Section 9.3a).
A The portal vein carries blood from the gastrointestinal organs into the liver.
C During fetal life, the ductus venosus shunts placental blood from the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava, allowing it to bypass the liver circulation.
D The umbilical vein is part of the fetal circulation that transports oxygenated blood from the placenta to the ductus venosus in the liver.
E Only the hepatic veins are involved in venous drainage of the liver.
14. C The intercostal nerves are instrumental in the ability to sense, and react to, abdominal pain as they innervate the parietal peritoneum (sensory branches) and the abdominal wall muscles (motor branches). Inflammation of the parietal peritoneum can cause severe pain. The visceral peritoneum is not very sensitive (Section 8.1c).
A The phrenic nerve innervates the diaphragm but does not contribute to the innervation of the abdominal wall muscles.
B The vagus nerve innervates neither the peritoneum nor the abdominal wall muscles.
D Lumbar splanchnic nerves carry sympathetic fibers that innervate abdominal viscera.
E The greater splanchnic nerve carries only sympathetic fibers, which innervate abdominal viscera.
15. D The omphalomesenteric duct (yolk stalk) has failed to regress and remains as an ileal (Meckel’s) diverticulum (Section 9.1).
A The ductus venosus diverts blood in the umbilical vein into the inferior vena cava in the fetus.
B The remnant of the umbilical vein, the round ligament (ligamentum teres), runs in the inferior edge of the falciform ligament, which connects the liver to the anterior abdominal wall.
C The medial umbilical ligament on the anterior abdominal wall is the remnant of the umbilical artery.
E The urachus, the remnant of the fetal allantois, extends superiorly on the anterior abdominal wall from the apex of the bladder to the umbilicus, as the median umbilical ligament.
16. D Renal calculi form in the kidney from concentrated urine and are associated with inflammatory bowel disease and other pathology but are not a symptom of portal hypertension (Section 9.3a).
A Esophageal veins that drain superiorly to the azygos (systemic) system and inferiorly to the portal system form an important portocaval anastomosis. Varices of these veins are a typical symptom of portal hypertension.
B In portal hypertension, flow through the splenic vein slows, causing the spleen to enlarge abnormally (splenomegaly).
C Rectal veins drain superiorly to the portal system and inferiorly to the systemic system. In portal hypertension they enlarge (forming varices) to accommodate the greater flow into the systemic system.
E Ascites is a typical symptom of portal hypertension due to liver disease.
17. D Indirect inguinal hernias pass through the deep inguinal ring, which is lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels and superior to the inguinal ligament (Section 7.3a).
A Inguinal hernias are located above the inguinal ligament; femoral hernias are located below the ligament.
B Indirect inguinal hernias are located lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels; direct inguinal hernias are located medial to the vessels.
C Direct inguinal hernias protrude through the inguinal triangle; indirect inguinal hernias protrude through the deep inguinal ring lateral to the triangle.
E The aponeuroses of the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles form the conjoined tendon where they attach to the pubic ramus. This is not a common site for hernias.
18. A Short gastric and left gastro-omental arteries that supply the wall of the stomach are branches of the splenic artery (Sections 8.2a and 9.2a).
B The superior mesenteric artery supplies the midgut and does not normally supply the stomach.
C The renal arteries supply no branches to gastrointestinal organs.
D The marginal artery is an anastomotic connection between branches of the superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries but has no branches that supply the stomach.
E The middle colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery that supplies the transverse colon.
19. A The bare area is an area devoid of peritoneum adjacent to the inferior surface of the diaphragm bounded by the coronary and triangular ligaments (Section 9.3a).
B The fossa of the gallbladder on the visceral surface of the liver is also devoid of peritoneum but is not known as the bare area.
C Peritoneum covers the surface of the liver around the porta hepatis, the entry site for the structures of the portal triad.
D The leaflets of the falciform ligament do not contain the bare area, but on the surface of the liver the leaflets separate to form the coronary ligaments, which surround the bare area.
E The subperitoneal fibrous capsule of the liver is Glisson’s capsule, not the bare area.
20. B The right testicular vein drains into the inferior vena cava, but the left vein drains into the left renal vein. The angle at which the left testicular vein enters the left renal vein increases its susceptibility to obstruction. This is probably the reason why varicoceles are most commonly found on the left side (Section 7.3c).
A Neither testis drains to the common iliac vein.
C The right testis drains to the inferior vena cava, and the left drains to the left renal vein.
D Although the left testis drains to the ipsilateral renal vein, the right testis drains directly to the inferior vena cava.
E Although the right testis drains directly to the inferior vena cava, the left testis drains to the ipsilateral renal vein.
21. B Periumbilical veins anastomose with veins on the anterior abdominal wall and act as a portocaval shunt in severe portal hypertension (Section 8.2b).
A Pancreaticoduodenal veins drain to the portal vein but do not anastomose with veins of the systemic system.
C Renal veins drain into the inferior vena cava and do not connect to the portal system.
D Testicular veins drain to the systemic system and do not anastomose with the portal system.
E Not applicable.
22. B The common hepatic duct of the liver joins the cystic duct of the gallbladder to form the bile duct (Section 9.3b).
A The right and left hepatic ducts join to form the common hepatic duct.
C The main pancreatic duct joins the common hepatic duct to form the hepatopancreatic ampulla.
D The cystic duct does not join the hepatopancreatic duct. It joins the common hepatic duct to form the common bile duct.
E The main pancreatic duct does not join the cystic duct.
23. E Seminiferous tubules are highly coiled structures within the lobes of the testes where sperm are produced (Section 7.3c).
A The epididymis is a site of sperm storage and maturation.
B The tunica albuginea is the tough connective tissue capsule of the testis.
C The ductus deferens transports sperm along the spermatic cord to the deep pelvis.
D The rete testis is a network of ducts through which sperm exit the testis.
24. C Lateral aortic nodes drain the abdominal wall and structures of the retroperitoneum, including the gonads (Section 8.2c).
A Lateral aortic nodes drain to lumbar trunks. Preaortic nodes drain to intestinal trunks.
B Superior mesenteric, inferior mesenteric, and celiac nodes are part of the preaortic group of lymph nodes that drain the gastrointestinal tract.
D The pancreas and other organs associated with the gastrointestinal tract drain to preaortic nodes.
E Lumbar trunks, which receive lymph from the lateral aortic nodes, drain into the chyle cistern (cisterna chyli) with the intestinal trunks that drain the gastrointestinal tract. If the chyle cistern is absent, the trunks drain directly into the thoracic duct.
25. A The spiral valve in the neck of the gallbladder maintains the opening of the cystic duct (Section 9.3b).
B The ileocecal valve is located between the ileum and cecum.
C The pyloric sphincter is located between the pylorus of the stomach and the first part of the duodenum.
D The sphincter of Oddi surrounds the hepatopancreatic ampulla as it enters the descending part of the duodenum at the major duodenal papilla.
E The major duodenal papilla is an elevation on the medial wall of the descending part of the duodenum where the hepatopancreatic ampulla (formed by the union of the bile duct and pancreatic duct) enters.
26. D The ductus deferens is the structure within the spermatic cord that transmits sperm (Section 7.3d).
A The testicular artery does not transmit sperm.
B The pampiniform plexus is a venous plexus that drains the testis. C The urachus connects the apex of the bladder to the umbilicus and transmits urine in the fetus.
E The epididymis is a site for sperm maturation and storage located within the scrotal sac on the posterior surface of the testis.
27. C Lumbar splanchnic nerves (T11–L2) innervate abdominal viscera (Section 8.2d).
A Pelvic splanchnic nerves carry only parasympathetic fibers.
B The vagus nerve provides parasympathetic innervation to most abdominal viscera (except hindgut structures).
D The subcostal nerve is a somatic nerve that innervates part of the abdominal wall.
E The lumbar plexus is a somatic plexus whose nerves innervate the lower abdominal wall and lower limb.
28. B Most of the pancreas is secondarily retroperitoneal. The tail of the pancreas lies within the splenorenal ligament and is considered intraperitoneal (Sections 8.1a and 9.3c).
A The abdominal aorta is retroperitoneal and lies on the left side of the vertebral bodies.
C The spleen is completely intraperitoneal, supported by the gastrosplenic ligament and the splenorenal ligament.
D The transverse colon is intraperitoneal, supported by its transverse mesocolon.
E The kidney is a primary retroperitoneal organ, surrounded by perirenal fat and covered by peritoneum only on its anterior surface.
29. D The lesser omentum is a two-layer peritoneal membrane that connects the liver to the stomach and duodenum (Section 8.1b).
A Gerota’s fascia is the renal fascia that surrounds the kidney, suprarenal glands, renal vessels, and perirenal fat.
B The tunica albuginea is the tough outer fibrous membrane that surrounds the testis and invaginates to form the testicular lobes.
C Glisson’s capsule is a subperitoneal fibrous capsule that surrounds the liver.
E The medial umbilical ligament is the remnant of the umbilical artery on the anterior abdominal wall.
30. B The four lumbar veins on each side drain the posterior abdominal wall and terminate in the inferior vena cava (Section 8.2b).
A The inferior mesenteric vein terminates either in the superior mesenteric or in the splenic veins, which are tributaries of the portal vein.
C The left gastric vein drains into the portal vein.
D The inferior mesenteric vein joins with the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.
E The superior rectal vein drains superiorly to the inferior mesenteric vein, which is a tributary of the portal system.