Question

You are performing an ultrasound study to rule out AAA. Which of the following is true regarding the normal abdominal aorta?

A) The abdominal aorta is located immediately to the right of the IVC

B) The widest portion of the abdominal aorta is just proximal to its bifurcation

C) The aorta divides into the paired internal iliac arteries

D) The abdominal aorta normally tapers in diameter from its cranial to its caudal extent

E) The abdominal aorta lies immediately posterior to the vertebral bodies

Answer 1

The true statement regarding the normal abdominal aorta during an ultrasound study to rule out AAA is that the abdominal aorta tapers from cranial to caudal extent. It lies to the left of the vertebral column and bifurcates into common iliac arteries at the level of the L4 vertebra.

Step-by-step explanation:

You are performing an ultrasound study to rule out an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and you need to understand the characteristics of a normal abdominal aorta. Among the options provided, the statement that is true regarding the normal abdominal aorta is D) The abdominal aorta normally tapers in diameter from its cranial to its caudal extent. The abdominal aorta remains to the left of the vertebral column and starts to divide at the level of the fourth lumbar vertebra into the common iliac arteries. The abdominal aorta does give rise to several significant branches like the celiac trunk and mesenteric arteries before this division. It is crucial to know that the abdominal aorta does not lie immediately to the right of the inferior vena cava (IVC), but rather it is to the left of the vertebral column. Furthermore, the abdominal aorta bifurcates into common iliac arteries, and not specifically into internal iliac arteries as these are branches of the common iliac arteries.