Practice Quiz - Body Cavities

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  1. Neural crest cells differentiate into:
    postganglionic sympathetic cell bodies
    cells of the inferior mesenteric ganglion
    adrenal medullary cells
    cells of the enteric plexus
    all of the above are correct

  2. The ganglia of the autonomic nervous system are derived from:
    ectoderm
    endoderm
    both
    neither

  3. 001 The intraembryonic coelom located cranial to the oropharyngeal membrane becomes the:
    oral cavity
    cranial foregut
    stomodeum
    pericardial cavity
    nasal cavity D. is correct. The cardiogenic region lies cranial to the prochordal plate and its descendant, the oropharyngeal membrane. The heart tubes form on the endoderm side of intraembryonic coelom in the cardiogenic region. Following the head and lateral body folding, heart and its portion of intraembryonic coelom called pericardial cavity lie in the chest.
  4. 002 In the five-week embryo, the ventral mesentery of the primitive gut disappears, except where it is attached to the:
    cranial region of the foregut
    embryonic part of the yolk sac
    caudal region of the hindgut
    caudal region of the foregut
    cranial region of the midgut D. is correct. The only portion of the ventral mesentery to remain is the part attaching to the caudal foregut. This is essentially the ventral mesogastrium, although it includes an attachment to the first part of the duodenum. This latter part becomes hepatoduodenal ligament. Liver & gall bladder develop in the ventral mesentery.
  5. 003 The intraembryonic coelom first appears during the _____ week.
    second
    third
    fourth
    fifth
    sixth B. is correct. During the third week, spaces appear within the embryonic mesoderm laterally. These spaces coalesce to form a horseshoe-shaped cavity at the cranial end of the embryo called the intraembryonic coelom. This coelom is continuous with the extraembryonic coelom laterally. The coelom divides mesoderm into somatic & splanchnic layers.
  6. 004 Most myoblasts or muscle-forming cells of the diaphragm arise from mesenchymal cells originating in:
    septum transversum
    cervical somites
    thoracic body wall
    splanchnic mesoderm
    neural crest B. is correct. All skeletal muscle originates from somitic myotomes, and the muscle of the diaphragm is skeletal muscle. The cervical myotome cells enter the developing diaphragm during its descent to its final location. Because nerves always follow muscle regardless of its migration, the phrenic nerves, C3-5, innervate the diaphragm.
  7. 005 Which of the following is NOT true concerning development of the diaphragm?
    The phrenic nerves pass through the pleuropericardial membranes to reach the diaphragm.
    The sole motor nerves to the diaphragm arise from spinal cord segments at cervical levels three, four and five.
    The periphery of the diaphragm is supplied by sensory branches of the intercostal nerves.
    Phrenic nerves form during the 8th week as septum transversum lies at the level of the cervical somites. D. is correct. Phrenic nerves, from C3-5, reach the diaphragm slightly later than 4th week, when septum transversum lies at cervical levels. Phrenic nerves are the sole motor nerves to the diaphragm, but intercostal branches innervate it peripherally. Phrenic nerves pass through the pleuropericardial membranes, later fibrous pericardium.
  8. 006 Which of the following is true concerning congenital diaphragmatic hernia through a posterolateral defect?
    It is the most common type of diaphragmatic hernia.
    Stomach, intestines and part of liver may herniate into the thoracic cavity.
    It occurs more often on the left side.
    The lungs may be compressed and hypoplastic.
    all of the above are correct E. is correct. Posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia involves failure of closure of the pleuroperitoneal canals. It usually occurs on the left, and parts of stomach, spleen, intestine and liver may pass up into the chest, compressing lungs. Diaphragmatic hernia is a fairly common malformation, and a posterolateral defect is the most common type.
  9. 007 The pleuropericardial membranes give rise to the fibrous pericardium of the adult. In the embryo, these membranes contain:
    lung buds
    cardinal veins
    dorsal aortae
    phrenic nerves
    more than one of the above E. is correct. Initially, the pleuropericardial folds seem to be pushed out by the common cardinal veins. They contain the phrenic nerves at their bases. The folds merge behind the heart. Lung buds are always behind or below the pleuropericardial folds or membranes. Dorsal aorta is also behind, on the posterior body wall.
  10. 008 Which of the following gives rise to pleura?
    ectoderm
    splanchnic mesoderm
    endoderm
    somatic mesoderm
    more than one of the above E. is correct. Mesoderm lines the intraembryonic coelom, and is divided by the coelom into somatic, associated with body wall, and splanchnic, associated with gut, layers. The somatic mesoderm lining becomes the parietal layers of pleura, serous pericardium & peritoneum. Visceral serous membranes come from splanchnic mesoderm.
  11. 009 Which of the following does NOT contribute to the diaphragm:
    body wall musculature
    pleuroperitoneal membranes
    septum transversum
    ventral mesentery D. is correct. The first three items mentioned are components of the diaphragm. A defect in the pleuroperitoneal membrane can result in a diaphragmatic hernia, in which abdominal contents herniate into the thoracic cavity, usually on the left side. This can interfere with the development of the lung, making it hypoplastic.
  12. 010 Growth of the pleuropericardial membranes is due to:
    descent of the heart
    expansion of pleural cavities
    growth of common cardinal veins ventrocranially
    expansion of the pericardial cavity
    more than one of the above E. is correct. The pleuropericardial membranes develop from the pleuropericardial folds and contain the phrenic nerves and common cardinal veins. Via descent of the heart and the ventrocranial growth of the common cardinal veins, these membranes are brought into apposition, ultimately forming the fibrous pericardium.
  13. 011 The intraembryonic coelom:
    gives rise to pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities
    has a communication with the amniotic cavity
    splits the lateral plate mesoderm
    is continuous with the yolk sac
    more than one of the above E. is correct. The lateral plate mesoderm splits into somatic mesoderm, which lines the body wall, and splanchnic mesoderm, which lines the yolk sac. The area between these layers is the intraembryonic coelom, the progenitor of the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities. In early development, it communicates with chorionic cavity.
  14. 012 The embryonic mesogastrium NEVER contains: A. dorsal pancreas B. spleen C. mesenchyme D. superior mesenteric artery D. is correct. The dorsal pancreas, spleen and mesenchyme are all contained, at one time or another, within the mesogastrium. With rotation of the stomach, however, the pancreas ultimately winds up in a retroperitoneal position. The superior mesenteric artery is the midgut artery and is therefore not in the mesogastrium.
  15. 013 The derivatives of the embryonic ventral mesentery include the following structures EXCEPT:
    hepatoduodenal ligament
    hepatogastric ligament
    falciform ligament
    ligamentum teres hepatis
    lesser omentum D. is correct. The ligamentum teres hepatis is a remnant of the fetal umbilical vein. Although it is contained within the ventral mesentery, it is not a derivative of it.
  16. 014 Which of the following organs is NOT normally retroperitoneal:
    suprarenal gland
    pancreas
    descending colon
    sigmoid colon D. is correct. The suprarenal or adrenal glands and kidneys develop retroperitoneally. Four gut structures, the pancreas, duodenum, ascending & descending colon, develop intraperitoneally, but are pushed against the posterior body wall during gut rotation. These four structures fuse there, and are therefore called secondarily retroperitoneal.
  17. 015 The following peritoneal ligaments are derived wholly or in part from the embryonic dorsal mesogastrium EXCEPT:
    hepatogastric ligament
    splenorenal or lienorenal ligament
    gastrosplenic or gastrolienal ligament
    gastrocolic ligament
    transverse mesocolon A. is correct. Splenorenal, gastrosplenic and gastrocolic ligaments are derived from the dorsal mesogastrium, while transverse mesocolon fuses with dorsal mesogastrium. The hepatogastric ligament, on the other hand, is derived from the ventral mesentery.
  18. 016 Which of the following contribute to the formation of the diaphragm?
    septum transversum
    mesenchyme of the costal body walls
    both
    neither C. is correct. The diaphragm is formed by: septum transversum, forming the central tendon portion; the pleuroperitoneal membranes; mesenchyme from the lateral and dorsal body walls, giving rise to the musculature of the diaphragm; and the esophageal mesentery, which gives rise to the crura of the diaphragm.
  19. 017 The coelom originally located cranial to the prochordal plate becomes the:
    mouth cavity
    stomodeum
    pericardial cavity
    pharyngeal cavity
    pleural cavity C. is correct. Remember that early in development, the heart begins to develop beneath the intraembryonic coelom cranial to prochordal plate. The intraembryonic coelom is later subdivided into a single pericardial, paired pleural and a single peritoneal cavities. Folding of the embryo brings heart & pericardial cavity into the chest.
  20. 018 After folding of the head region, the structure lying just caudal to the pericardial cavity is the:
    developing heart
    connecting stalk
    primitive streak
    liver
    septum transversum E. is correct. The septum transversum is the diaphragm's earliest progenitor. After folding of the head region brings the heart and its coelom region ventrally, the septum transversum is the structure that lies immediately caudal to it. Liver is not a bad guess, but remember that the diaphragm lies between it and the thorax in the adult.
  21. 019 Which structure develops, in part, within the septum transversum?
    lungs
    small intestine
    larynx
    esophagus
    heart
    stomach
    parietal pleura
    visceral pleura
    liver
    pancreas
    ascending colon
    transverse colon I. is correct. The hepatic diverticulum grows from the caudal foregut into the ventral mesentery and the septum transversum.
  22. 020 Which structure develops dorsal to the intraembryonic coelom in the region cranial to the prochordal plate/oropharyngeal membrane?
    lung
    small intestine
    larynx
    esophagus
    heart
    stomach
    parietal pleura
    visceral pleura
    liver
    pancreas
    ascending colon
    transverse colon E. is correct. The heart tubes develop dorsal to the intraembryonic coelom in the cardiogenic region at the cranial end of the embryo.
  23. 021 Which structure develops from the somatic layer of lateral plate mesoderm?
    lung
    small intestine
    larynx
    esophagus
    heart
    stomach
    parietal pleura
    visceral pleura
    liver
    pancreas
    ascending colon
    transverse colon G. is correct. The cell layer lining the intraembryonic coelom develops into the serous membranes of the three body cavities: pleura, pericardium and peritoneum. The inner lining of the somatic layer of the lateral plate mesoderm becomes the parietal layer of these serous membranes, while the outer lining of the splanchnic layer of the lateral plate becomes the visceral pleura-pericardium-peritoneum, lining the organs in these body cavities.