Back & UE Questions

Question 1

what is special about the C1 vertebrae

Answer 1

there is no body or spinous process

Question 2

what is the name of othe ligament that connects adjacent vertebrae

Answer 2

ligamentum flavum

Question 3

hypertrophy of the ligamentum flavum can lead to what?

Answer 3

spinal stenosis (can cause impingement and is most common indication for spinal surgery in pts 60+)

Question 4

name the part of the intervertebral disc that herniates in disc prolapse?

Answer 4

nucleus pulposus (anulus fibrosus has a tear allowing the pulposus to protrude through and cause symptoms)

Question 5

all spinal nerves participate in the dermatomes except which one?

Answer 5

C1

Question 6

a patient presents with back pain, saddle paresthesia, loss of bowel/bladder control. What medical emergency are you concerned about?

Answer 6

cauda equina

Question 7

what is the most common symptom of cauda equina?

Answer 7

low back pain

Question 8

which nerve roots contain sensory (afferent) fibers?

Answer 8

dorsal nerve roots

Question 9

what innervates latissimus dorsi

Answer 9

thoracodorsal nerve

Question 9

which nerve and muscle is involved in winging of the scapula

Answer 9

serratus anterior and long thoracic nerve

Question 10

name the condition where there is chronic inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints, associated with the HLAB27 gene, that appears as a bamboo spine on x-ray?

Answer 10

ankylosing spondylitis

Question 11

what are the three subdivisions of the erector spinae

Answer 11

iliocostalis, longissimus, spinalis

Question 12

the suboccipital triangle is an important landmark that is formed by the obliquus capitis superior and inferior, and the rectus capitis posterior major. what does the triangle contain that is so important?

Answer 12

3rd part of the vertebral artery, C1 nerve, venous plexus

Question 13

a patient presents with accentuation of the thoracic curve. what is the name of this postural malalignment?

Answer 13

kyphosis

Question 14

One vertebral body has slipped forward on another. what is the name of this process?

Answer 14

spondylolisthesis (often associated with pars fracture)

Question 15

what is the most common pathogen involved in osteomyelitis

Answer 15

staph aureus

Question 16

a patient experiencing bone pain in his spine on x-ray reveals punched out lytic lesions, what is the likely diagnosis?

Answer 16

multiple myeloma

Question 17

All peanut lovers eat peanut butter

Answer 17

abductor pollicis longus, extensor pollicis brevis

Question 18

PAD-DAB

Answer 18

palmar interossei are ADductors of the fingers

dorsal interossei are ABductors of the fingers

Question 19

some lovers try positions that they can’t handle

Answer 19

scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform, trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate

Question 20

what innervates the pectoralis muscles?

Answer 20

medial and lateral pectoral nerves

Question 21

What innervates the serratus anterior muscle?

Answer 21

long thoracic nerve

Question 22

what is a clinical sign if the long thoracic nerve is injured?

Answer 22

medially winged scapula

Question 23

the musculocutaneous nerve derives from what cord in the brachial plexus

Answer 23

the lateral cord

Question 24

A patient presenting with a claw hand may have what condition?

Answer 24

Klumpke's paralysis

Question 25

which nerve roots are involved in Klumpke's paralysis?

Answer 25

C8-T1

Question 26

A patient fell on his shoulder and presents with weakness of elbow flexion and shoulder adduction, flexion, and external rotation. What is the name of this condition?

Answer 26

Erb-Duchenne paralysis

Question 27

what nerve roots are involved in erb-duchenne paralysis

Answer 27

Erb's point: C5 and 6

Question 28

what 4 nerves diverge from Erb's point

Answer 28

lesser occipital nerve, greater auricular nerve, transverse cervical nerve, supraclavicular nerve

Question 29

name the muscles that make up the rotator cuff

Answer 29

supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis

Question 30

what is the innervation of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscles

Answer 30

suprascapular nerve

Question 31

what innervates teres minor

Answer 31

axillary nerve

Question 32

what innervates subscapularis

Answer 32

lower subscapular nerve

Question 33

a patient suffered a fracture of the humeral shaft. which nerve is at risk of being injured and what is the name of the clinical sign?

Answer 33

Radial nerve - wrist drop/radial nerve palsy

Question 34

a patient injures the surgical neck of the humerus. what two structures are you concerned about given the location of the injury?

Answer 34

posterior circumflex humeral artery and the axillary nerve

Question 35

a patient has sustained trauma to the quadrangular space of the arm. What structures are you concerned about in this space

Answer 35

axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral vessels

Question 36

which is the most common form of shoulder dislocation

Answer 36

inferior or subglenoid dislocation

Question 37

a patient suffered a supracondylar humerus fracture. the brachial arteri blood supply was compromoised leading to what?

Answer 37

Volkmann's Ischemic contracture

Question 38

A truck driver presents with tingling along her first and second fingers. Which nerve is likely involved?

Answer 38

Median nerve

Question 39

What cord of the brachial plexus does the ulnar nerve originate from?

Answer 39

Medial

Question 40

What is the innervation of the biceps brachii

Answer 40

musculocutaneous

Question 41

Where do all of the superficial forearm flexors originate from?

Answer 41

medial epicondyle of humerus

Question 42

what two nerves innervate the flexor compartment of the forearm

Answer 42

median and ulnar

Question 43

what nerve passes through the two heads of the pronator teres?

Answer 43

median nerve

Question 44

what nerve pierces the corachobrachialis muscle

Answer 44

musculocutaneous nerve

Question 45

The anconeus assists the triceps in extending the elbow, what is its nerve supply?

Answer 45

radial nerve

Question 46

what is the innervation of the triceps brachii?

Answer 46

radial nerve

Question 47

which nerve is responsible for innervating the extensor surface of the forearm

Answer 47

radial nerve

Question 48

Nursemaids elbow is a dislocation of which ligament?

Answer 48

annular ligament

Question 49

which bone of the forearm is responsible for forming the major part of the elbow joint with the humerus?

Answer 49

ulna

Question 50

when performing an exam of the elbow, you note a disrupted triangular relationship between the two humeral epicondyles and the olecranon process. what has likley happened?

Answer 50

elbow joint dislocation

Question 51

a patient has injured her radial collateral ligament/inflammation of lateral epicondyle. Is this tennis elbow or golfer's elbow?

Answer 51

Tennis elbow

Question 52

A patient presents with snuffbox tenderness, what fracture are you concerned about?

Answer 52

scaphoid fracture

Question 53

the adductor pollicis receives dual nerve supply from which two nerves?

Answer 53

ulnar and median

Question 54

What can atrophy with prolonged carpal tunnel

Answer 54

thenar muscles

Question 55

what are the carpal bones that articulate with the radius to form the wrist joint

Answer 55

scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum

Question 56

what are the three muscles that make up the thenar eminence

Answer 56

flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis

Question 57

All the muscles of the hand are supplied by the ulnar nerve except which muscles

Answer 57

thenar muscles, 1st and 2nd lumbricals (median nerve)

Question 58

What is the most common type of wrist fracture in adults

Answer 58

colles fracture

Question 59

the axillary artery is a continuation of which artery

Answer 59

subclavian artery

Question 60

the axillary artery becomes what artery before branching into the radial and ulnar arteries at what level?

Answer 60

brachial artery at the lower border of the teres major

Question 61

the dorsal venous arch drains from the ulnar side as what vein

Answer 61

basilic vein

Question 62

the dorsal venous arch drains from the radial side as what vein

Answer 62

cephalic vein

Question 63

which artery accompanies the ulnar nerve

Answer 63

ulnar artery