1. A hospitalized 45-year-old man developed a thrombus (blood clot) in his lower thigh following severe trauma to his knee. The patient’s physician explained that although the clot was near the great saphenous vein, the main concern was the occurrence of a pulmonary embolism. Explain the physician’s reasoning and list, in sequence, the vessels the clot would have to pass through to become a pulmonary embolism.

2. An arterial pressure point is where the blood flow to a body region can be diminished by compressing an artery between the skin and a bony structure. Describe the location of the clinically important arterial pressure points and explain how this information could be put to use in giving a victim first-aid treatment. What precautions should be taken in applying pressure at an arterial pressure point?

3. Your sister’s baby girl was diagnosed as having a congenital patent foramen ovale in her heart. Describe what this means and explain why the baby is cyanotic.

4. In our concern about coronary artery disease and heart attacks, most of our attention is focused on the ventricles rather than on the atria. Can you give a sound physiological explanation for this?

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