Practice exam questions

Dorsal rami of spinal nerves innervate all of the following EXCEPT the:
latissimus dorsi muscle
skin between the medial (dorsal) borders of the scapulae
erector spinae muscle
interspinous ligament

A posterolateral herniation of the nucleus pulposus of the C6-C7 intervertebral disc is most likely to encroach upon the C7 spinal nerve (or roots)
True
False
True False

While a standing patient is moving through the midrange of spine flexion the deep back muscles (erector spinae) show a:
isometric contraction
lengthening (eccentric) contraction
shortening (concentric) contraction
no contraction

In the upright position the most gravitationally dependent recess of the pleural cavity is the costodiaphragmatic recess.
True
False
True False

Which of the following statements is INCORRECT?
upper lumbar cord segments are typically located at the T11 vertebral level
the subarachnoid space ends at the S1-2 vertebral level
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is normally located in the epidural space
the spinal cord typically ends at the L1-2 vertebral levels

In quiet breathing, the horizontal fissure of the right lung intersects the midaxillary line at the level of the 4th rib and the parasternal (sternal) line at the level of the 3rd rib (costal cartilage)
True
False
True False

All of the following features predispose the intervertebral disc to posterolateral herniation EXCEPT:
the disc is least reinforced posterolaterally by external ligaments
the posterior part of the annulus firbosus is subjected to maximal tensile stresses during the predominant motion of the spine, flexion
the annulus fibrosus is thinnest posteriorly
the posterolateral part of the annulus fibrosus is only made up of loose connective tissue

The supraclavicular cutaneous peripheral nerves are most involved in diaphragmatic referred pain.
True
False
True False

If you wanted to introduce a needle into the pleural cavity in the scapular line with no danger of puncturing the lung you would introduce the needle between the:
4th and 6th ribs
10th and 12th ribs
8th and 10 ribs
6th and 8th ribs

Radial, median, and thoracodorsal nerves are derived from the brachial plexus (terminal or preterminal) which contain fibers from both C7 and C8 spinal cord segments.
True
False
True False

Lower intercostal nerves innervate all of the following EXCEPT the:
abdominal wall skin
visceral pleura
intercostal muscles
ribs

The median cubital vein is located superficial to the bicipital aponeurosis.
True
False
True False

Which of the following arteries could NOT be utilized in the collateral circulation around an occlusion of the descending aorta immediately distal to the left subclavian artery?
internal thoracic arteries
posterior intercostal arteries
superior epigastric arteries
brachial arteries

The median nerve and the brachial artery are located deep to the bibipital aponeurosis.
True
False
True False

Typically the most anterior (anterosuperior) structure at the lung root is the:
main bronchus
pulmonary artery
bronchial artery
superior pulmonary vein

During forcible pronation of the forearm, flexion of the arm at the elbow is produced primarily by the brachialis muscle
True
False
True False

Which of the following muscles receive the most nerve fibers from C5 and C6 spinal cord segments?
anterior forearm muscles
posterior forearm muscles
intrinsic muscles of the hand
intrinsic shoulder muscles

At the wrist, the median nerve is located just medial to the tendon of the flexor carpi radialis muscle.
True
False
True False

A lesion of the accessory nerve and the long thoracic nerve would produce which of the following deficits?
weakness in turning the face to the opposite (contralateral) side
weakness in same side (ipsilateral) shoulder shrugging
reduced range of motion in ipsilateral shoulder abduction
all of the above

At the wrist, the major weight bearing articulation occurs between the radius proximally and the scaphoid and lunate bones distally.
True
False
True False

Which of the following is an INCORRECT match?
pectoralis major - abduction of the arm at the shoulder
latissimus dorsi - extension of the flexed arm at the shoulder
subscapularis - internal rotation of the arm at the shoulder
teres minor - external rotation of the arm at the shoulder

Abduction of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th digits of the hand tests the function of the (dorsal) interossei
True
False
True False

Which of the following is an INCORRECT statement about the scalene interval?
narrowing of this interval does not compromise the subclavian vein
its boundaries include the first rib and the middle and anterior scalene muscles
ventral rami and trunks of the brachial plexus emerge from this interval into the posterior triangle.
a narrowing of the scalene interval will not affect the arterial supply to the upper limb.

The azygos bein courses posterior, then superior to the right lung root to enter the superior vena cava.
True
False
True False

A T1 spinal cord lesion would result in:
loss of thumb flexion
loss of wrist and finger flexion
diminished sensation over the medial forearm
weakness in elbow extension

The sinoatrial (SA) node is located on the epicardial surface of the right atrium at the junction of the superior vena cava and the sulcus terminalis.

True
False
True False

Which of the following
statements is FALSE regarding the subdeltoid (subacromial) bursa?

the bursa lies immediately
inferior to the coracoacromial arch
the bursa is intimately
related to the pectoralis major tendon
the bursa contains the
supraspinatus muscle tendon in its floor
an inflammation of this
bursa can cause pain during abduction of the arm

Cardiac veins drain posteriorly into the coronary sinus which lies in the posterior portion of the left atrioventricular sulcus.
True
False
True False

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the
subdeltoid (subacromial) bursa?
the bursa lies immediately inferior to the coracoacromial
arch
the bursa is intimately related to the pectoralis major
tendon
the bursa contains the supraspinatus muscle tendon in its
floor
an inflammation of this bursa can cause pain during
abduction of the arm

Which pair of artery and nerve structures is most at risk
from damage with a fracture of the humerus at mid-shaft?

brachial artery and median nerve
posterior humeral circumflex artery and axillary nerve
deep brachial artery (deep artery of the arm) and radial
nerve
radial artery and deep radial nerve
True False

To locate the radial arterial pulse at the wrist, you wouldpalpate just lateral to the flexor carpa radialis tendon
True
False

Tapping the tendon of the triceps brachii muscle is a good
test for the integrity of all of the following structures EXCEPT the

posterior cord of the brachial plexus
middle trunk of the brachial plexus
deep branch of the radial nerve
C7 segment of the spinal cord

The right recurrent laryngeal nerve recurs around theright subclavian artery

True
False
True False

Which of the following structures is a feature of the
proximal ulna?

coronoid fossa
olecranon
capitulum
trochlea

Natural points of esophageal narrowing (where carcinoma of
the esophagus has a high incidence) appears at the 4th stenocostal junction.
True
False
True False

To locate the radial arterial pulse at the wrist, you would
palpate just:

medial to the flexor carpi radialis tendon
lateral to the palmaris longus tendon
lateral to the flexor carpi radialis tendon
lateral to the flexor carpi ulnaris tendon

In the posterior mediastinum, the thoracic duct
is located between the ascending aorta and the azygos vein.
True
False
True False

The "anatomical snuff box":

Boundaries
Contents
Bones that can be palpated




True False

CSF is in which space?

Typically the most anterior (anterosuperior)
structure at the lung root is the superior pulmonary vein.

True
False
True False

The "antomical snuff box":

is bounded by the tendons of the adductor pollicis and
extensor carpa radialis longus muscles
is bounded dorsally by the tendon of extensor pollicis
longus and ventrally by the tendors of extensor pollicis brevis and abductor
pollicis longus
has the hamate bone in its floor
has the ulnar artery in its floor

An inability to extend the wrist would result from alesion of the median nerve
True
False
True False

A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome could exhibit all of
the following deficits EXCEPT:

weakness in simultaneous MP joint flexion and IP joint
extension of the 2nd and 3rd digits
sensory loss in skin over the lateral 1/2 of the palm
weakness in thumb opposition
sensory loss in skin on the palmar aspect of the lateral 3
1/2 digits

All of the following deficits could result from a lesion of
the ulnar nerve at the wrist EXCEPT:

inability to adduct the little finger
inability to flex the DIP joint of the little finger
reduced sensation in skin over the palmar surface of the
medial 1 1/2 digits of the hand
inability to adduct the thumb

An inability to extend the wrist would result from a lesion
of the :
musculocutaneous nerve
median nerve
radial nerve
ulnar nerve

The right recurrent laryngeal nerve:
supplies sympathetic input to the cardiac plexus
recurs around the right subclavian artery
loops under the liamentum arteriosum
gives off multiple branches to the distal esophagus
inability to adduct the thumb

In the posterior mediastinum, the thoracic duct is located:
along the left aspect of the esophagus
posterior to the esophagus, between the azygos vein and the
descending aorta
between the ascending aorta and the azygos vein
anterior to the descending aorta, the esophagus, and the
azygos vein

Which of the following statements about direct visceral
branches of the sympathetic autonomic nervous system is NOT true?
they exit the sympathetic trunk through the gray
communicating rami
those going to the esophagus arise from the upper thoracic
sympathetic trunk
they contain postganglionic GVE fibers from the sympathetic
trunk
those going to the cardiac plexuses arise from both cervical
and upper thoracic levels of the sympathetic trunk

Natural points of esophageal narrowing (where carcinoma of
the esophagus has a high incidence) include all of the following levels EXCEPT:
the beginning of the esophagus
the tracheal bifurcation
the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm
the 4th sternocostal junction

Where would you place your stethoscope to listen best to
aortic valve sounds?
parasternally to the right 2nd intercostal space
parasternally in the left 2nd intercostal space
parasternally in the right 4th intercostal space
none of the above

Two nerves derived from the brachial plexus (terminal or
preterminal) which contain fibers from both C7 and C8 spinal cord segments?
axillary and deep radial nerve
ulnar and musculocutaneous
thoracodorsal and radial
supraclavicular and median