1
ARDMS ABDOMEN BOARD TEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
3 layers of Aorta - (ANSWER)Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, Tunica Adventitia
What is the tunica intima made of - (ANSWER)endothelial cells (inner layer)
What is the tunica media made of - (ANSWER)muscle, thicker and more
organized layer in arteries (middle layer)
What is the tunica adventitia made of - (ANSWER)epithelial cells (outer layer)
Where does the aorta arise from - (ANSWER)Left ventricle
Where is the aorta located - (ANSWER)Anterior and to the left of the spine and
left of the IVC (most posterior abdominal vessel)
Name the paired branches of aorta - (ANSWER)Suprarenal arteries, renal arteries,
gonadal arteries, lumbar arteries, and common iliac arteries
, 2
Name the unpaired branches of the aorta - (ANSWER)celiac axis (common
hepatic artery, splenic artery, and left gastric artery), SMA, IMA, median sacral
artery
Name the anterior branches of the aorta - (ANSWER)celiac axis, SMA, IMA,
gonadal arteries, and median sacral artery
Name the lateral branches of aorta - (ANSWER)suprarenal arteries, renal arteries,
and common iliac arteries
Where do the common iliac arteries bifurcate - (ANSWER)L3-4
Average normal proximal measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)2.0 - 2.6 cm
Average normal mid measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)1.6 - 2.4 cm
Average normal distal measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)1.1 - 2.0 cm
Normal measurement of iliac arteries - (ANSWER)0.6 - 1.4 cm
What is the most common type of AAA - (ANSWER)fusiform
What is the most common location of AAA - (ANSWER)infrarenal
, 3
Where does aortic dissection most commonly occur - (ANSWER)ascending aorta
and arch
What is the most common cause of aortic stenosis - (ANSWER)atherosclerosis
Where does retroperitoneal fibrosis most commonly occur at - (ANSWER)aortic
bifurcation and below
What is the most common location of splanchnic artery aneurysm -
(ANSWER)splenic artery
Where does the IVC and SVC empty - (ANSWER)right atrium
What are the tributaries of the IVC - (ANSWER)CIV, lumbar veins, gonadal veins,
renal veins, suprarenal veins, hepatic veins
What is the most common variation of IVC anatomy - (ANSWER)duplicated IVC
What is a transposed IVC - (ANSWER)IVC on left side of abdomen and crosses
anterior to aorta
What is an interrupted IVC - (ANSWER)congenital anomaly where IVC doesn't
extend the entire way to the right atrium
, 4
Dilated hemiazygos and azygos veins indicate what - (ANSWER)interrupted IVC,
IVC obstruction, and IVC overload
What is the largest soft tissue organ - (ANSWER)liver
The liver is encapsulated by - (ANSWER)Glisson capsule
Bare areas of the liver - (ANSWER)portion of liver not covered by
peritoneum/capsule. Fluid cannot accumulate here because liver is indirect
contact with diaphragm
What are the bare areas of the liver - (ANSWER)GB fossa, porta hepatis, and
superior surface to the right of IVC
Where is the porta hepatis located - (ANSWER)liver hilum on the inferior surface
of liver
What is the porta hepatis bordered by - (ANSWER)GB fossa and lig teres
What is the portal triad - (ANSWER)portal vein, hepatic artery, bile duct
What is contained in the extrahepatic portal triad - (ANSWER)MPV, proper
hepatic artery, and CBD
ARDMS ABDOMEN BOARD TEST EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (VERIFIED
AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS) LATEST
UPDATE 2025/2026
3 layers of Aorta - (ANSWER)Tunica Intima, Tunica Media, Tunica Adventitia
What is the tunica intima made of - (ANSWER)endothelial cells (inner layer)
What is the tunica media made of - (ANSWER)muscle, thicker and more
organized layer in arteries (middle layer)
What is the tunica adventitia made of - (ANSWER)epithelial cells (outer layer)
Where does the aorta arise from - (ANSWER)Left ventricle
Where is the aorta located - (ANSWER)Anterior and to the left of the spine and
left of the IVC (most posterior abdominal vessel)
Name the paired branches of aorta - (ANSWER)Suprarenal arteries, renal arteries,
gonadal arteries, lumbar arteries, and common iliac arteries
, 2
Name the unpaired branches of the aorta - (ANSWER)celiac axis (common
hepatic artery, splenic artery, and left gastric artery), SMA, IMA, median sacral
artery
Name the anterior branches of the aorta - (ANSWER)celiac axis, SMA, IMA,
gonadal arteries, and median sacral artery
Name the lateral branches of aorta - (ANSWER)suprarenal arteries, renal arteries,
and common iliac arteries
Where do the common iliac arteries bifurcate - (ANSWER)L3-4
Average normal proximal measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)2.0 - 2.6 cm
Average normal mid measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)1.6 - 2.4 cm
Average normal distal measurement of aorta - (ANSWER)1.1 - 2.0 cm
Normal measurement of iliac arteries - (ANSWER)0.6 - 1.4 cm
What is the most common type of AAA - (ANSWER)fusiform
What is the most common location of AAA - (ANSWER)infrarenal
, 3
Where does aortic dissection most commonly occur - (ANSWER)ascending aorta
and arch
What is the most common cause of aortic stenosis - (ANSWER)atherosclerosis
Where does retroperitoneal fibrosis most commonly occur at - (ANSWER)aortic
bifurcation and below
What is the most common location of splanchnic artery aneurysm -
(ANSWER)splenic artery
Where does the IVC and SVC empty - (ANSWER)right atrium
What are the tributaries of the IVC - (ANSWER)CIV, lumbar veins, gonadal veins,
renal veins, suprarenal veins, hepatic veins
What is the most common variation of IVC anatomy - (ANSWER)duplicated IVC
What is a transposed IVC - (ANSWER)IVC on left side of abdomen and crosses
anterior to aorta
What is an interrupted IVC - (ANSWER)congenital anomaly where IVC doesn't
extend the entire way to the right atrium
, 4
Dilated hemiazygos and azygos veins indicate what - (ANSWER)interrupted IVC,
IVC obstruction, and IVC overload
What is the largest soft tissue organ - (ANSWER)liver
The liver is encapsulated by - (ANSWER)Glisson capsule
Bare areas of the liver - (ANSWER)portion of liver not covered by
peritoneum/capsule. Fluid cannot accumulate here because liver is indirect
contact with diaphragm
What are the bare areas of the liver - (ANSWER)GB fossa, porta hepatis, and
superior surface to the right of IVC
Where is the porta hepatis located - (ANSWER)liver hilum on the inferior surface
of liver
What is the porta hepatis bordered by - (ANSWER)GB fossa and lig teres
What is the portal triad - (ANSWER)portal vein, hepatic artery, bile duct
What is contained in the extrahepatic portal triad - (ANSWER)MPV, proper
hepatic artery, and CBD
