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

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Prepare for the ABS QE with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Start your journey to becoming a certified surgeon and tackle your exam with confidence!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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Where do both the superior and middle thyroid veins typically drain into?

Innominate vein
Superior vena cava
Internal jugular vein
Subclavian vein

The correct answer is: Internal jugular vein

The superior and middle thyroid veins typically drain into the internal jugular vein, making it the correct choice. The superior thyroid vein arises from the upper part of the thyroid gland and usually connects directly to the internal jugular vein. The middle thyroid vein, which collects blood from the middle portion of the thyroid gland, also drains into the internal jugular vein. This vein serves as a major conduit for venous blood return from the head and neck regions. Understanding this anatomical drainage is crucial for surgical procedures involving the neck, as it informs surgeons about potential vascular structures they may encounter. The other options do not accurately represent the direct drainage pathways of the superior and middle thyroid veins, as those veins do not commonly connect to the innominate vein, superior vena cava, or subclavian vein.