American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam (ABS QE) Practice Test

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Prepare for the American Board of Surgery Qualifying Exam with detailed quizzes. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions to master the ABS QE topics. Get all the hints and explanations you need to succeed on your first attempt!

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Which structure does the left recurrent laryngeal nerve loop around?

Subclavian artery
Innominate artery
Aorta
Superior thyroid artery

The correct answer is: Aorta

The left recurrent laryngeal nerve loops around the aorta. This anatomical feature is significant in understanding the pathways of certain nerves and their clinical implications. The nerve branches off the vagus nerve and travels down into the thorax, where it curves around the aortic arch before ascending back toward the larynx. This looping is essential for its function in innervating the muscles that control the vocal cords. The path of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve is closely associated with the cardiovascular structures in the thoracic cavity, making it susceptible to injury during procedures involving the aorta, such as aortic arch surgery. Understanding this anatomy is crucial for surgeons to avoid complications during operations in the vicinity of the aorta.