Advanced Internal Thoracic Artery Quiz

Q1. Why is the internal thoracic artery commonly used for coronary artery bypass grafting?

• Excellent long-term graft patency
• It normally supplies the myocardium
• It carries venous blood
• It has no side branches

Q2. Which internal thoracic artery is commonly grafted to the left anterior descending coronary artery?

• Left internal thoracic artery
• Left bronchial artery
• Right posterior intercostal artery
• Right superior phrenic artery

Q3. Which collateral pathway can connect subclavian and external iliac arterial territories?

• Pulmonary-bronchial pathway
• Internal thoracic-epigastric pathway
• Renal-gonadal pathway
• Coronary-cerebral pathway

Q4. Which arteries connect the internal thoracic circulation with the external iliac system?

• Superior and inferior thyroid arteries
• Renal and gonadal arteries
• Bronchial and pulmonary arteries
• Superior and inferior epigastric arteries

Q5. Why is the internal thoracic artery relevant during median sternotomy?

• It runs close to the sternum
• It runs inside the esophagus
• It crosses the aortic valve
• It lies within the spinal canal

Q6. Which structure lies immediately posterior to the internal thoracic artery superiorly?

• Parietal pleura
• Skin
• Pectoralis major
• Sternum

Q7. What separates the internal thoracic artery from parietal pleura inferiorly?

• Transversus thoracis
• Serratus anterior
• Pectoralis major
• External intercostal

Q8. Which branch is particularly important in supplying the medial breast?

• Lumbar branches
• Spinal branches
• Bronchial branches
• Perforating branches

Q9. Harvesting the internal thoracic artery for bypass may reduce blood supply to which structure?

• Vertebral body
• Sternum
• Thyroid gland
• Kidney

Q10. Which description best summarizes the internal thoracic artery?

• A subclavian branch supplying anterior thoracoabdominal structures
• A thoracic aortic branch supplying the spinal cord
• A pulmonary branch supplying alveoli
• A coronary branch supplying myocardium