Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) Practice Test

Among the following vessels, which is part of the celiac trunk?

1. Internal jugular vein

2. Common hepatic artery

3. Femoral artery

4. Subclavian artery

The correct answer is: Common hepatic artery

The common hepatic artery is considered part of the celiac trunk, which is a major arterial trunk that branches off from the abdominal aorta. This trunk supplies blood to the liver, stomach, and other parts of the digestive system. The celiac trunk bifurcates into three main arteries: the left gastric artery, the splenic artery, and the common hepatic artery. The common hepatic artery, in particular, branches into several important vessels, including the proper hepatic artery, which supplies blood to the liver, and the gastroduodenal artery, which supplies the stomach and duodenum. Understanding the anatomy and branches of the celiac trunk is crucial for surgical procedures involving the upper abdomen, making it essential knowledge for someone training to be a surgical first assistant. The other vessels mentioned in the question—such as the internal jugular vein, femoral artery, and subclavian artery—are not associated with the celiac trunk. The internal jugular vein primarily drains blood from the head and neck, the femoral artery supplies the thigh and leg, and the subclavian artery primarily supplies blood to the arms and part of the neck. Thus, they are part of different vascular systems and serve distinct functions unrelated to the celiac trunk