ABSITE – Breast UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
The embryologic structure from which the breast forms: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ectodermal thickenings termed mammary ridges or milk lines
Name the function of the following hormones: Estrogen - CORRECT ANSWER -
branching differentiation and duct development in the breast
Name the function of the following hormones: Progesterone - CORRECT ANSWER -
lobular development of the breast
Name the muscle the artery supplies: Thoracodorsal artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Latisimus dorsi
Name the muscle the artery supplies: Lateral thoracic artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Serratus anterior muscle
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Serratus anterior muscle - CORRECT
ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Latissimus dorsi - CORRECT
ANSWER - Thoracodorsal nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Pectoralis minor - CORRECT
ANSWER - Medial pectoral nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Pectoralis major - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lateral and medial pectoral nerves
,Winged scapula - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve
Weak arm adduction/pull-ups - CORRECT ANSWER - Thoracodorsal nerve
Name the arterial supply to the breast: - CORRECT ANSWER - Branches derived from
the intercostal arteries, internal thoracic artery, lateral thoracic artery, and thoracoacromial artery
The valveless venous plexus responsible for direct hematogenous spread of breast cancer to the
spine: - CORRECT ANSWER - Batson plexus
Suspensory ligaments that divide the breast into segments: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Cooper ligaments
What percentage of lymphatic drainage of the breast is to: - CORRECT ANSWER - The
axillary nodes: 97%
The internal mammary nodes: 1% to 2%
Anatomic description for Levels I, II, and III nodes in the breast? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Level I: Lateral to the pectoralis minor muscle
Level II: Beneath the pectoralis minor muscle
Level III: Medial to the pectoralis minor muscle
Nodes between the pectoralis minor and major muscles - CORRECT ANSWER - Rotter
node
What are the Superior boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein
, What are the Posterior boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic
nerve
What are the Lateral boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Latissimus dorsi
muscle
What are the Medial boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pectoralis minor
Nerves to be aware of in an ALND: - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve,
Thoracodorsal nerve, Medial pectoral nerve, Lateral pectoral nerve, Intercostobrachial nerve
Potential complications of ALND: - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein thrombosis,
Infection,Nerve injury, Lymphedema, Lymphatic fibrosis, Lymphangiosarcoma
Most likely cause of sudden, painful, early postop swelling of the ipsilateral arm after an axillary
dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein thrombosis
Most likely cause of slow, painless, progressive swelling of the ipsilateral arm after an axillary
dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Lymphatic fibrosis
Most likely cause of hyperesthesia of the inner upper aspect of the ipsilateral arm after an
axillary dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Injury to the second
intercostobrachiocutaneous nerve
Incidence of lymphedema after axillary node dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - 15% to
30%
Incidence of lymphedema after sentinel node biopsy: - CORRECT ANSWER - 2% to 4%
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
The embryologic structure from which the breast forms: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Ectodermal thickenings termed mammary ridges or milk lines
Name the function of the following hormones: Estrogen - CORRECT ANSWER -
branching differentiation and duct development in the breast
Name the function of the following hormones: Progesterone - CORRECT ANSWER -
lobular development of the breast
Name the muscle the artery supplies: Thoracodorsal artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Latisimus dorsi
Name the muscle the artery supplies: Lateral thoracic artery - CORRECT ANSWER -
Serratus anterior muscle
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Serratus anterior muscle - CORRECT
ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Latissimus dorsi - CORRECT
ANSWER - Thoracodorsal nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Pectoralis minor - CORRECT
ANSWER - Medial pectoral nerve
Name the nerve that innervates the following muscles:Pectoralis major - CORRECT
ANSWER - Lateral and medial pectoral nerves
,Winged scapula - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve
Weak arm adduction/pull-ups - CORRECT ANSWER - Thoracodorsal nerve
Name the arterial supply to the breast: - CORRECT ANSWER - Branches derived from
the intercostal arteries, internal thoracic artery, lateral thoracic artery, and thoracoacromial artery
The valveless venous plexus responsible for direct hematogenous spread of breast cancer to the
spine: - CORRECT ANSWER - Batson plexus
Suspensory ligaments that divide the breast into segments: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Cooper ligaments
What percentage of lymphatic drainage of the breast is to: - CORRECT ANSWER - The
axillary nodes: 97%
The internal mammary nodes: 1% to 2%
Anatomic description for Levels I, II, and III nodes in the breast? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Level I: Lateral to the pectoralis minor muscle
Level II: Beneath the pectoralis minor muscle
Level III: Medial to the pectoralis minor muscle
Nodes between the pectoralis minor and major muscles - CORRECT ANSWER - Rotter
node
What are the Superior boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein
, What are the Posterior boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic
nerve
What are the Lateral boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Latissimus dorsi
muscle
What are the Medial boundaries of the axilla? - CORRECT ANSWER - Pectoralis minor
Nerves to be aware of in an ALND: - CORRECT ANSWER - Long thoracic nerve,
Thoracodorsal nerve, Medial pectoral nerve, Lateral pectoral nerve, Intercostobrachial nerve
Potential complications of ALND: - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein thrombosis,
Infection,Nerve injury, Lymphedema, Lymphatic fibrosis, Lymphangiosarcoma
Most likely cause of sudden, painful, early postop swelling of the ipsilateral arm after an axillary
dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Axillary vein thrombosis
Most likely cause of slow, painless, progressive swelling of the ipsilateral arm after an axillary
dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Lymphatic fibrosis
Most likely cause of hyperesthesia of the inner upper aspect of the ipsilateral arm after an
axillary dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - Injury to the second
intercostobrachiocutaneous nerve
Incidence of lymphedema after axillary node dissection: - CORRECT ANSWER - 15% to
30%
Incidence of lymphedema after sentinel node biopsy: - CORRECT ANSWER - 2% to 4%
