WBR0172

Author	[[PageAuthor::Serge Korjian M.D. (Reviewed by Alison Leibowitz) (Reviewed by Serge Korjian)]]
Exam Type	ExamType::USMLE Step 1
Main Category	MainCategory::Anatomy
Sub Category	SubCategory::Gastrointestinal, SubCategory::General Principles
Prompt	[[Prompt::A 52-year-old man, recently diagnosed with gastric cancer, is scheduled to undergo total gastrectomy. During his surgery, the surgeon resects the ligament that connects the greater curvature of the stomach and the spleen. Which of the following arteries is most likely contained in the resected ligament?]]
Answer A	AnswerA::Left gastric artery
Answer A Explanation	AnswerAExp::The left gastric artery is not contained in the gastrosplenic artery. It is one the three primary arteries branching off of the celiac trunk.
Answer B	AnswerB::Short gastric arteries
Answer B Explanation	AnswerBExp::The short gastric arteries are contained in the gastrosplenic ligament. The gastrosplenic ligament connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the spleen.
Answer C	AnswerC::Hepatic artery
Answer C Explanation	AnswerCExp::The portal triad, which includes the hepatic artery, portal vein, and common bile duct, is contained in the hepatoduodenal ligament. The ligament connects the liver to the duodenum.
Answer D	AnswerD::Splenic artery
Answer D Explanation	AnswerDExp::The splenic artery is contained in the splenorenal ligament. The splenorenal ligament connects the spleen to the posterior abdominal wall.
Answer E	AnswerE::Gastroepiploic artery
Answer E Explanation	AnswerEExp::The gastroepiploic artery is contained in the gastrocolic ligament, which connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the transverse colon.
Right Answer	RightAnswer::B
Explanation	[[Explanation::The ligament that is most likely resected in this scenario is the gastrosplenic ligament, which connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the spleen. The gastrosplenic ligament separates the greater and the lesser sacs laterally. The gastrosplenic ligament contains several structures, including the short gastric arteries and the left gastroepiploic vessels. Educational Objective: The gastrosplenic ligament connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the spleen. The gastrosplenic ligament contains the short gastric arteries. References: Townsend CM. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. Saunders; 2008. First AID for the USMLE Step 1 2013 P. 336]]
Approved	Approved::Yes
Keyword	WBRKeyword::Ligament, WBRKeyword::Greater, WBRKeyword::Lesser, WBRKeyword::Sac, WBRKeyword::Omentum, WBRKeyword::Spleen, WBRKeyword::Stomach, WBRKeyword::Short gastric arteries, WBRKeyword::Short, WBRKeyword::Gastric, WBRKeyword::Arteries, WBRKeyword::Surgery, WBRKeyword::Gastrectomy, WBRKeyword::Gastric, WBRKeyword::Cancer
Linked Question	Linked::
Order in Linked Questions	LinkedOrder::