VASCULAR ARDMS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
average velocity of the aorta - ANS-60-100 cm/s
what aortic pathologies affect the branches - ANS-stenosis, aneurysm, plaque
what are the normal waveforms of the proximal aorta - ANS-low resistance flow
pattern with continuous forward diastolic flow by the liver spleen, and kidneys (similar
to ICA waveform)
normal waveforms for distal aorta - ANS-higher resistance flow pattern
what causes the distal aorta to be more high resistive - ANS-peripheral resistance and
due to the triphasic nature of the aortic branches (reversal during diastole)
why is the proximal aorta more high low resistive - ANS-the highly metabolic organs of
the abdomen need forward flow in systole and diastole
whats the most superior brach of the aorta arising from the anterior surface - ANS-
celiac artery
where to 95% of celiac arteries bif - ANS-1-3 cm from origin
what does the eliac artery bif into - ANS-common hepatic, splenic, and left gastric
,which pane is the celiac best seen in - ANS-transverse
what is the normal waveform for the celiac - ANS-low resistance flow due to the
vascular beds of the liver and spleen with continuous forward flow during diastole
what happens if the celiac occludes - ANS-collateralization throught the
pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade-network of small vessels surrounding the
pancreas and duodenum (feed into duodenum then into the common hepatic)
how does the splenic artery run - ANS-it follows a tortuous course long the posterior,
superior pancreatic body and tail with several pancreatic and gastric branches
where does the splenic artery originate - ANS-it is a branch off of the celiac axis
where does the splenic artery terminate - ANS-ends as branches in the splenic hilum
what is the normal splenic artery waveform - ANS-turbulent flow due to tortuosity (fig
26-3, 441)
what is the best way to evaluate the spenic artery - ANS-in the transverse plane from
the anterior midline along the tail, eval distal from left lateral window at splenic hilum
wheredoes the common hepatic artery lay - ANS-in the superior border of the
pancreatic head, its the right branch of the celiac
what does the common hepatic give rise to - ANS-the GDA
where does the common hepatic artery turn into the proper hepatic artery - ANS-past
the GDA
what occurs after the proper hepatic artery enters the liver - ANS-it divides into right
and left branches
, what is the normal wave form for the common hepatic artery - ANS-low resistance
continuous forward diastolic flow
where is the best place to evaluate the common hepatic artery - ANS-eval from anterior
abdominal window at the porta hepatis
where does the sma arise? - ANS-anterior aorta distal to celiac trunk
what is the course of the SMA - ANS-it has a short anterior segment then turns
inferiorly and ends near the ileoceccal valve
what is the normal waveform of the SMA and IMA in a fasting patient - ANS-high
resistance flow with sharp systolic peaks and absent late diastolic flow
What is the normal waveform of the SMA and IMA 30-90 minutes post prandial - ANS-
low resistance pattern with broad systolic peaks and continuous diastolic flow
whats the best way to eval the SMA and IMA - ANS-eval in transverse from anterior
what does the sma supply - ANS-branches supply the jejunum, ileum cecum, ascending
colon, proximal 2/3rds of the transverse colon, portions of the duodenum, and the
pancreatic head
where does the sma lie in relation to the smv and the left renal vein - ANS-to the right
of the smv and the left renal vein courses between the sma and aorta
what is the function of the portal venous system - ANS-it transports nutrient rich
blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver
what is the normal flow of the PV system - ANS-hepatopedal (unidirectional forward
flow) with subtle phasic variation produced by respiratory and cardiac hemodynamic
effects and unidirectional; sounds like a windstorm
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025-2026
average velocity of the aorta - ANS-60-100 cm/s
what aortic pathologies affect the branches - ANS-stenosis, aneurysm, plaque
what are the normal waveforms of the proximal aorta - ANS-low resistance flow
pattern with continuous forward diastolic flow by the liver spleen, and kidneys (similar
to ICA waveform)
normal waveforms for distal aorta - ANS-higher resistance flow pattern
what causes the distal aorta to be more high resistive - ANS-peripheral resistance and
due to the triphasic nature of the aortic branches (reversal during diastole)
why is the proximal aorta more high low resistive - ANS-the highly metabolic organs of
the abdomen need forward flow in systole and diastole
whats the most superior brach of the aorta arising from the anterior surface - ANS-
celiac artery
where to 95% of celiac arteries bif - ANS-1-3 cm from origin
what does the eliac artery bif into - ANS-common hepatic, splenic, and left gastric
,which pane is the celiac best seen in - ANS-transverse
what is the normal waveform for the celiac - ANS-low resistance flow due to the
vascular beds of the liver and spleen with continuous forward flow during diastole
what happens if the celiac occludes - ANS-collateralization throught the
pancreaticoduodenal arterial arcade-network of small vessels surrounding the
pancreas and duodenum (feed into duodenum then into the common hepatic)
how does the splenic artery run - ANS-it follows a tortuous course long the posterior,
superior pancreatic body and tail with several pancreatic and gastric branches
where does the splenic artery originate - ANS-it is a branch off of the celiac axis
where does the splenic artery terminate - ANS-ends as branches in the splenic hilum
what is the normal splenic artery waveform - ANS-turbulent flow due to tortuosity (fig
26-3, 441)
what is the best way to evaluate the spenic artery - ANS-in the transverse plane from
the anterior midline along the tail, eval distal from left lateral window at splenic hilum
wheredoes the common hepatic artery lay - ANS-in the superior border of the
pancreatic head, its the right branch of the celiac
what does the common hepatic give rise to - ANS-the GDA
where does the common hepatic artery turn into the proper hepatic artery - ANS-past
the GDA
what occurs after the proper hepatic artery enters the liver - ANS-it divides into right
and left branches
, what is the normal wave form for the common hepatic artery - ANS-low resistance
continuous forward diastolic flow
where is the best place to evaluate the common hepatic artery - ANS-eval from anterior
abdominal window at the porta hepatis
where does the sma arise? - ANS-anterior aorta distal to celiac trunk
what is the course of the SMA - ANS-it has a short anterior segment then turns
inferiorly and ends near the ileoceccal valve
what is the normal waveform of the SMA and IMA in a fasting patient - ANS-high
resistance flow with sharp systolic peaks and absent late diastolic flow
What is the normal waveform of the SMA and IMA 30-90 minutes post prandial - ANS-
low resistance pattern with broad systolic peaks and continuous diastolic flow
whats the best way to eval the SMA and IMA - ANS-eval in transverse from anterior
what does the sma supply - ANS-branches supply the jejunum, ileum cecum, ascending
colon, proximal 2/3rds of the transverse colon, portions of the duodenum, and the
pancreatic head
where does the sma lie in relation to the smv and the left renal vein - ANS-to the right
of the smv and the left renal vein courses between the sma and aorta
what is the function of the portal venous system - ANS-it transports nutrient rich
blood from the intestines and spleen to the liver
what is the normal flow of the PV system - ANS-hepatopedal (unidirectional forward
flow) with subtle phasic variation produced by respiratory and cardiac hemodynamic
effects and unidirectional; sounds like a windstorm
