X.i · Procedural Anatomy

Official V4 objective

Describe the anatomy relevant to central venous access (including femoral, internal jugular, external jugular, subclavian and peripheral veins).

4 SAQ topics 10 SAQ appearances 4 VIVA stations

Current · V5 (2025) → D1.v

Written examination

SAQ history

10 appearances

Venous Access — Femoral Vein

2 exam appearances

2025A Q08

Describe the anatomy of the femoral vein as it relates to central venous cannulation.

45%

2024A Q08

Describe the anatomy of the femoral vein as it relates to central venous cannulation.

22%

Venous Access — Internal Jugular

3 exam appearances

2021B Q08

Describe the anatomy of the internal jugular vein including surface anatomy landmarks relevant to central venous line insertion.

38%

2017B Q23

Outline the anatomy of the internal jugular vein relevant to central venous line cannulation (80% of marks). Include important anatomical variations (20% of marks).

14%

2014A Q18

Outline the anatomy of the internal jugular vein. (80% of marks) Describe the Doppler Effect. (20% of marks)

40%

Venous Access — PICC Anatomy

1 exam appearance

2012B Q07

Describe the anatomy of the antecubital fossa and peripheral veins of the upper arm relevant to a peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC).

22.7%

Venous Access — Subclavian Vein

4 exam appearances

2022A Q18

Describe the anatomy of the left subclavian vein.

14%

2016A Q16

Outline the anatomy of the subclavian vein relevant to central venous line insertion.

38%

2013B Q18

Describe the anatomy relevant to the cannulation of the left subclavian vein.

—

2009B Q11

Describe and / or illustrate the anatomy relevant for the insertion of a central line into the left subclavian vein using any of the available techniques.

Oral examination

VIVA history

4 stations

2017A · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will test your knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to central venous pressure. Identify the structures on the diagram below. Which nerve is anatomically associated with structures 2 and 7? (Image removed.)

90% successful
2016B · Day 1 · VIVA 6
This viva tested knowledge of physical principles around flow and viscosity. It went on to look at the venous anatomy of the upper limb and chest and in vivo blood clotting.

Pass rate not reported
2010B · VIVA 7
This viva will test your knowledge about the anatomy of the internal jugular vein. This viva will also test your knowledge of statistics. Describe the anatomical landmarks for cannulation of the internal jugular vein Candidates had only a very superficial knowledge of the anatomy of the internal jugular vein, particularly surface anatomy and it’s course within the neck. Knowledge in very basic statistics (eg medians, means, measures of distribution, box plots) was very disappointing.

40% successful
2009A · VIVA 1
This image is of the carotid artery and internal jugular vein. How can you distinguish the two using this form of imaging?

Pass rate not reported

Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.