Massachusetts Funeral Director Practice Exam

Which artery is typically severed in a long bone donation?

1. Femoral artery

2. Tibial artery

3. Genicular artery

4. Brachial artery

The correct answer is: Genicular artery

The correct response is based on the typical procedure involved in long bone donation, where the genicular artery is commonly severed. The genicular arteries are a set of vessels that surround the knee and provide blood supply to the knee joint. During a long bone donation, particularly in the acquisition of tibia or femur, the surgical team often needs to access the knee area. The genicular arteries being situated at this joint are frequently involved in the procedure. In contrast, the femoral artery primarily supplies blood to the thigh and is not severed during procedures focused on bone extraction from the lower limb. Similarly, the tibial artery, which runs along the lower leg, would also not typically be the vessel involved in long bone donation, as it is located more distally than the area of focus. The brachial artery, located in the upper arm, is irrelevant in the context of long bone donation from the lower extremities. Understanding the specific anatomical structures related to the procedures involved in organ or tissue donation is crucial, and recognizing the role of the genicular artery highlights the importance of vascular anatomy in surgical techniques.