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MRCS B Anatomy Exam Questions With
Correct Answers
What are the four parts of the stomach? - answer✔cardia, fundus, body, pylorus
How could you tell the difference between the jejunum and the ileum? - answer✔The jejunum is
larger, thicker, more vascular and a darker red than the ileum.
It has longer vasa recta and fewer arcades.
How can you tell the difference between large and small bowel on an abdominal radiograph? -
answer✔Large bowel has haustrae, which extend only a third of the way across the bowel from
each side, whereas small bowel has valvulae conniventes which traverse the complete distance.
Occasionally, location can help, with small bowel tending to be more central (beware a drooping
transverse colon!).
During an operative procedure, the colon can be further distinguished from small bowel by the
presence of the appendices epiploicae and taenia coli.
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What are the functions of the pancreas? - answer✔The pancreas has both exocrine and endocrine
functions.
The pancreatic acini perform the exocrine functions, producing and secreting digestive enzymes.
The Islets of Langerhans perform the endocrine function:
Alpha cells - produce and secrete glucagon
Beta cells - produce and secrete insulin
Delta cells - produce and secrete somatostatin
Gamma cells - produce pancreatic polypeptide
Describe the blood supply to the pancreas - answer✔The pancreas has three main sources of
blood supply:
The superior pancreaticoduodenal (from the gastroduodenal) and inferior pancreaticoduodenal
(from the superior mesenteric) arteries supply the head of the pancreas.
Pancreatic branches from the splenic artery supply the remainder of the pancreas.
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Venous drainage follows arterial supply, to the superior mesenteric and portal veins, and the
splenic vein respectively.
What is Meckel's diverticulum? - answer✔Meckel's diverticulum is the remnant of the
embryological vitellointestinal duct (which connects the midgut to the yolk sac).
Commonly it obeys the 'Rule of 2s': occurs in 2% of the population; is 2 inches long; occurs 2
feet from the ileocaecal valve and is twice as common in males as in females. It should be looked
for during all appendicectomies when a normal appendix is found.
It is important as a Meckel's can cause a number of complications:
Acute inflammation - can often mimic appendicitis, and should always be looked for at
laparoscopy when a normal appendix is found.
Ulceration and bleeding - often the diverticulum is lined with hydrochloric acid producing
gastric mucosa
Perforation
Intussusception
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Obstruction
Littre's Hernia - when found in an inguinal or femoral hernia sac
What are the relations of the kidney? - answer✔The immediate relations to the kidney are:
Above - the diaphragm
Below - quadratus lumborum
Medially - psoas major
Laterally - transversus abdominis
antero-superiorly - adrenal glands
Each kidney has numerous anterior relations as seen here:
Which fascia surrounds the kidneys? - answer✔Gerota's fascia