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Chest, abdominal and pelvic anatomy

51 Gulf Prometric Radiographer (DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS, QCHP) practice questions on Chest, abdominal and pelvic anatomy, part of Radiographic Anatomy. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

  1. Question 1 · Medium

    The spleen lies against which ribs in the left upper quadrant?

    1. AFourth to sixth
    2. BTwelfth only
    3. CFirst to third
    4. DNinth to eleventh
    Show answer

    Answer: D · Ninth to eleventh

    The spleen sits under the left ninth to eleventh ribs, behind the stomach and above the left kidney, with its long axis along the tenth rib. It is not palpable normally. Rib fractures here raise the suspicion of splenic injury.

    • A: Ribs four to six overlie the heart and lower lung.
    • B: The twelfth rib lies lower and relates to the kidney.
    • C: Ribs one to three lie in the upper chest.

    Remember this

    The spleen lies under the left ninth to eleventh ribs.

  2. Question 2 · Medium

    Which of the following arteries arises from the coeliac trunk?

    1. AInferior mesenteric artery
    2. BSplenic artery
    3. CRight renal artery
    4. DMiddle colic artery
    Show answer

    Answer: B · Splenic artery

    The coeliac trunk arises from the aorta at about T12 and divides into the left gastric, splenic and common hepatic arteries. These supply the foregut: the stomach, spleen, liver and part of the pancreas and duodenum.

    • A: The inferior mesenteric artery comes from the aorta at about L3.
    • C: The renal arteries arise from the aorta at L1 to L2.
    • D: The middle colic artery is a branch of the superior mesenteric artery.

    Remember this

    The coeliac trunk gives the left gastric, splenic and common hepatic arteries.

  3. Question 3 · Medium

    At which vertebral levels do the vena caval, oesophageal and aortic openings of the diaphragm lie, respectively?

    1. AT10, T12 and L2
    2. BT8, T10 and T12
    3. CT6, T8 and T10
    4. DT12, L1 and L2
    Show answer

    Answer: B · T8, T10 and T12

    The IVC passes through the diaphragm at T8, the oesophagus at T10 and the aorta at T12. This is used for localising structures on lateral and axial images.

    • A: T10, T12 and L2 shift each opening down by two levels.
    • C: T6, T8 and T10 are too high for all three openings.
    • D: T12 to L2 is the level of the crura, below the openings.

    Remember this

    The IVC, oesophagus and aorta pass the diaphragm at T8, T10 and T12.

    Mnemonic: I ate 10 eggs at 12 (IVC 8, oesophagus 10, aorta 12).

  4. Question 4 · Medium

    On a barium enema, which colonic flexure is normally higher and more posterior?

    1. ASigmoid flexure
    2. BHepatic flexure
    3. CSplenic flexure
    4. DBoth are at the same height
    Show answer

    Answer: C · Splenic flexure

    The splenic flexure lies high, under the left diaphragm, and is deeper than the hepatic flexure. This is why patients are often rolled or tilted to show the splenic flexure in examinations.

    • A: The sigmoid is at the pelvic end of the colon and is the lowest.
    • B: The hepatic flexure is lower because of the liver.
    • D: They are not at the same level.

    Remember this

    The splenic flexure is higher and more posterior than the hepatic flexure.

  5. Question 5 · Medium

    On axial CT of the lower neck and upper chest, the oesophagus lies:

    1. ABetween the aortic arch and the sternum
    2. BIn front of the trachea
    3. CTo the right of the trachea, beside the SVC
    4. DBehind the trachea and in front of the vertebral column
    Show answer

    Answer: D · Behind the trachea and in front of the vertebral column

    The oesophagus starts at C6 behind the cricoid and runs behind the trachea, slightly to the left in the lower neck, in front of the vertebral column. Its position makes air in its lumen a normal finding.

    • A: The thymic area lies behind the sternum, in front of the great vessels.
    • B: The thyroid isthmus lies in front of the trachea.
    • C: The SVC lies to the right of the aorta, not alongside the oesophagus.

    Remember this

    The oesophagus lies behind the trachea and in front of the spine.

  6. Question 6 · Medium

    Which part of the pancreas lies within the C-shaped curve of the duodenum?

    1. ABody
    2. BNeck
    3. CHead
    4. DTail

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  7. Question 7 · Easy

    In the female pelvis, the uterus lies between which two structures?

    1. AThe bladder in front and the symphysis behind
    2. BThe vagina in front and the bladder behind
    3. CThe bladder in front and the rectum behind
    4. DThe rectum in front and the sacrum behind

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  8. Question 8 · Medium

    On a lateral chest radiograph, the major (oblique) fissure runs in which direction?

    1. AFrom anterosuperior to posteroinferior
    2. BVertically along the sternum
    3. CHorizontally across the midline
    4. DFrom posterosuperior to anteroinferior

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  9. Question 9 · Easy

    On a normal PA chest radiograph, which structure forms the right heart border, below the superior vena cava?

    1. ARight atrium
    2. BLeft atrium
    3. CAortic root
    4. DRight ventricle

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  10. Question 10 · Medium

    Which vein passes between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery on its way to the inferior vena cava?

    1. ALeft gonadal vein
    2. BSplenic vein
    3. CLeft renal vein
    4. DRight renal vein

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  11. Question 11 · Medium

    A patient with renal colic has a stone stuck where the ureter crosses the pelvic brim. This is one of the ureter's normal narrowings. Which are the other two?

    1. AThe pelviureteric junction and the vesicoureteric junction
    2. BThe psoas muscle and the sacral promontory
    3. CThe calyx and the renal pelvis
    4. DThe renal hilum and the bladder neck

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  12. Question 12 · Medium

    On axial CT at the level of the pulmonary trunk, the superior vena cava lies:

    1. AIn front of the pulmonary trunk
    2. BTo the left of the ascending aorta
    3. CBehind the descending aorta
    4. DTo the right of the ascending aorta

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  13. Question 13 · Medium

    On a lateral chest radiograph, which cardiac structure lies directly behind the lower sternum and fills the lower retrosternal space?

    1. AAscending aorta
    2. BLeft ventricle
    3. CRight ventricle
    4. DLeft atrium

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  14. Question 14 · Medium

    Which projection best shows a small pleural effusion that cannot be seen on the erect chest film?

    1. AAP lordotic view with the beam angled cranially
    2. BApical lordotic view with the arms raised overhead
    3. CLateral decubitus with the affected side down
    4. DPA view taken in deep expiration, arms by the side

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  15. Question 15 · Medium

    At the hilum, the relationship of the pulmonary arteries to the main bronchi is that the right pulmonary artery is:

    1. AAbove the right main bronchus, and the left lies in front of the left bronchus
    2. BIn front of the right main bronchus, and the left lies above the left bronchus
    3. CBehind the right main bronchus, and the left lies below the left bronchus
    4. DBelow both main bronchi

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  16. Question 16 · Hard

    A PA chest radiograph taken erect at full inspiration shows a maximum heart width of 15.5 cm and a maximum internal thoracic width of 28 cm. What is the cardiothoracic ratio and its meaning?

    1. AAbout 0.50, normal
    2. BAbout 0.55, enlarged
    3. CAbout 0.45, normal
    4. DAbout 1.8, enlarged

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  17. Question 17 · Easy

    At which vertebral level does the trachea divide into the right and left main bronchi at the carina?

    1. AT10
    2. BL1
    3. CC6
    4. DT4 to T5

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  18. Question 18 · Medium

    On a PA chest radiograph, which structure forms most of the lower left heart border?

    1. APulmonary trunk
    2. BLeft ventricle
    3. CRight ventricle
    4. DLeft atrial appendage

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  19. Question 19 · Hard

    Which part of the duodenum lies between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery and may be compressed in superior mesenteric artery syndrome?

    1. AThird (horizontal) part
    2. BFourth (ascending) part
    3. CFirst (superior) part
    4. DSecond (descending) part

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  20. Question 20 · Hard

    A supine woman has free fluid on pelvic CT. In which site is the fluid most likely to collect first?

    1. ARight subphrenic space
    2. BRectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas)
    3. CLesser sac
    4. DVesicouterine pouch

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  21. Question 21 · Medium

    On CT, the right adrenal gland lies directly behind which structure?

    1. ARight renal vein
    2. BAorta
    3. CPortal vein
    4. DInferior vena cava

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  22. Question 22 · Medium

    Where does the arch of the azygos vein normally lie as it joins the superior vena cava?

    1. AAnterior to the sternum
    2. BLeft hilum
    3. CUnder the right hemidiaphragm
    4. DRight tracheobronchial angle

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  23. Question 23 · Medium

    At the renal hilum on axial CT, the structures from front to back are usually:

    1. ARenal artery, renal pelvis, renal vein
    2. BRenal artery, renal vein, renal pelvis
    3. CRenal pelvis, renal artery, renal vein
    4. DRenal vein, renal artery, renal pelvis

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

  25. Question 25 · Medium

    Which two parts of the large bowel are intraperitoneal, with a mesentery, and so the most mobile?

    1. ATransverse colon and sigmoid colon
    2. BHepatic and splenic flexures
    3. CAscending and descending colon
    4. DCaecum and rectum

    Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

26 more Chest, abdominal and pelvic anatomy questions

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