Inferior Phrenic Arteries Flashcards

Review the origins, course, branches, anatomical relations, and vascular territories of the inferior phrenic arteries.

Card 1 of 24Question

What are the inferior phrenic arteries?

Paired arteries that primarily supply the inferior surface of the diaphragm.

In This Section

1. What are the inferior phrenic arteries?

Paired arteries that primarily supply the inferior surface of the diaphragm.

2. How are the inferior phrenic arteries classified among the branches of the abdominal aorta?

Paired parietal branches.

3. What is the most commonly described origin of the inferior phrenic arteries?

The abdominal aorta, near the aortic hiatus.

4. At approximately which vertebral level do the inferior phrenic arteries commonly arise from the abdominal aorta?

Around the T12 to L1 vertebral levels.

5. Which major unpaired visceral artery may give rise to one or both inferior phrenic arteries?

The celiac trunk.

6. Can the right and left inferior phrenic arteries have different origins?

Yes, each artery may arise independently from a different parent vessel.

7. What is a recognized common-trunk variation of the inferior phrenic arteries?

Both arteries may arise from a single trunk originating from the aorta or celiac trunk.

8. In which general direction do the inferior phrenic arteries travel toward the diaphragm?

Superiorly and laterally from their origins.

9. Which surface of the diaphragm is primarily supplied by the inferior phrenic arteries?

The inferior or abdominal surface.

10. What are the two principal diaphragmatic divisions of each inferior phrenic artery?

Medial and lateral branches.

11. Which region of the diaphragm is predominantly supplied by the medial branch of the inferior phrenic artery?

The medial diaphragmatic region, including areas near the central tendon.

12. Which region of the diaphragm is predominantly supplied by the lateral branch of the inferior phrenic artery?

The lateral muscular portion of the corresponding hemidiaphragm.

13. Which endocrine organs receive branches from the inferior phrenic arteries?

The suprarenal (adrenal) glands.

14. What are the adrenal branches of the inferior phrenic arteries called?

Superior suprarenal arteries.

15. Which artery usually supplies the middle suprarenal arteries, in contrast to the superior suprarenal arteries?

The abdominal aorta directly.

16. Which artery typically supplies the inferior suprarenal arteries?

The renal artery.

17. With which thoracic arteries do the inferior phrenic arteries anastomose in the diaphragm?

The superior phrenic and musculophrenic arteries.

18. Which artery arising from the internal thoracic artery contributes to anastomoses with the inferior phrenic arteries?

The musculophrenic artery.

19. How do the right and left inferior phrenic arteries communicate across the diaphragm?

Through anastomoses between their medial branches.

20. Which major vein is closely related to the right inferior phrenic artery near the diaphragm?

The inferior vena cava.

21. Which organ lies immediately inferior to much of the right hemidiaphragm supplied by the right inferior phrenic artery?

The liver.

22. Which inferior phrenic artery is an important potential extrahepatic collateral supply to hepatocellular carcinoma?

The right inferior phrenic artery.

23. Why must the inferior phrenic arteries be evaluated during transarterial embolization of certain liver tumors?

They may provide extrahepatic arterial supply to the tumor.

24. Which imaging technique can directly demonstrate the variable arterial origins of the inferior phrenic arteries?

Computed tomography angiography.