Answer to Abdominal Spelunking
Correct answer is D, the testicular artery. The superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric arteries do not exit the abdomen. The ureter is also a structure that remains strictly within the abdomen. The aorta enters the abdomen (so technically it does not exit it) and it divides before becoming the common iliac arteries, but the aorta does not traverse the diaphragm, it travels behind it. Only the testicular artery exits the abdomen via the deep inguinal ring. Note, this only occurs in the male. The ovarian artery does not exit the abdomen.
= Superior mesenteric a.
= Abdominal aorta
= Inferior mesenteric a.
= Testicular a.
= Left ureter
Answer to this question is based on material presented in lectures 9 of the Abdomen Lecture Series.
