Question

You are imaging the pancreas and detect a vessel posteriorly, coursing between the SMA and aorta. What vessel are you imaging?

A) IMA

B) Splenic vein

C) SMV

D) Right hepatic artery

E) Left renal vein

Answer 1

The vessel posteriorly located between the SMA and aorta that you are imaging is the left renal vein.

Step-by-step explanation:

You are imaging the left renal vein when you detect a vessel posteriorly, coursing between the Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) and aorta. This vein is responsible for draining the left kidney and often receives blood from the left suprarenal and left gonadal veins before it crosses anteriorly to the aorta and enters the inferior vena cava. It is one of the major vessels associated with the abdominal aorta, which gives rise to several important branches such as the celiac trunk (also known as celiac artery) and the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries, which supply blood to various abdominal organs.