A patient with a supracondylar fracture cannot flex the interphalangeal joint of the thumb or the distal joint of the index finger when attempting an OK sign. Which structures are affected?

Anterior interosseous nerve: flexor pollicis longus and lateral flexor digitorum profundus

Ulnar nerve: adductor pollicis and the medial flexor digitorum profundus

Radial nerve: extensor pollicis longus

Recurrent branch of the median nerve: opponens pollicis

Musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy

72 Gulf Prometric Physiotherapist (DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS, QCHP) practice questions on Musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy, part of Anatomy and Physiology. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
A patient has a claw hand, sensory loss on the medial forearm and a small constricted pupil on the same side after a traction injury. Which structure is most likely involved?
1. AUpper trunk or C5-C6 roots
2. BLateral cord
3. CAxillary nerve
4. DLower trunk or C8-T1 roots
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Answer: D · Lower trunk or C8-T1 roots
Klumpke palsy affects C8-T1, so the intrinsic hand muscles and the medial forearm are affected. Damage to the T1 sympathetic fibres causes Horner syndrome. It is seen after sudden upward pull on the arm.
- A: The upper trunk supplies the shoulder and elbow flexors.
- B: The lateral cord supplies the biceps and gives median nerve sensation.
- C: The axillary nerve supplies deltoid and teres minor only.
Remember this
Klumpke palsy is C8-T1 with claw hand and possible Horner syndrome.
Question 2 · Hard
A patient with a supracondylar fracture cannot flex the interphalangeal joint of the thumb or the distal joint of the index finger when attempting an OK sign. Which structures are affected?
1. AUlnar nerve: adductor pollicis and the medial flexor digitorum profundus
2. BRadial nerve: extensor pollicis longus
3. CAnterior interosseous nerve: flexor pollicis longus and lateral flexor digitorum profundus
4. DRecurrent branch of the median nerve: opponens pollicis
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Answer: C · Anterior interosseous nerve: flexor pollicis longus and lateral flexor digitorum profundus
The anterior interosseous nerve, a branch of the median nerve, supplies flexor pollicis longus, the lateral half of flexor digitorum profundus and pronator quadratus. Its lesion prevents a circular OK pinch, which becomes a flattened tip-to-tip pinch.
- A: The ulnar nerve would affect ring and little finger flexion.
- B: The radial nerve supplies the extensors of the thumb.
- D: The recurrent branch would affect opposition, not the interphalangeal flexion.
Remember this
Anterior interosseous nerve injury weakens flexor pollicis longus and lateral flexor digitorum profundus, so no OK sign.
Question 3 · Medium
After a pelvic surgery, a woman has weak hip adduction and numbness of the medial thigh. Which nerve is most likely injured?
1. AObturator nerve
2. BPudendal nerve
3. CSuperior gluteal nerve
4. DFemoral nerve
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Answer: A · Obturator nerve
The obturator nerve (L2-L4) passes through the obturator canal and supplies the adductor group and the skin of the medial thigh. It may be injured in pelvic or hernia surgery. Walking is affected by a wide-based, circumducting gait.
- B: The pudendal nerve supplies the perineum.
- C: The superior gluteal nerve supplies gluteus medius and minimus.
- D: The femoral nerve supplies knee extensors.
Remember this
Obturator nerve injury weakens hip adduction and numbs the medial thigh.
Question 4 · Medium
After a stab wound to the upper arm, a man has weak elbow flexion and supination and numbness along the lateral forearm. Which nerve was injured?
1. AUlnar nerve
2. BAxillary nerve
3. CMusculocutaneous nerve
4. DRadial nerve
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Answer: C · Musculocutaneous nerve
The musculocutaneous nerve (C5-C7) supplies coracobrachialis, biceps brachii and most of brachialis, then continues as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. Its injury weakens elbow flexion and supination, while brachioradialis keeps some flexion.
- A: Ulnar injury weakens the hand intrinsics and numbs the medial hand.
- B: Axillary injury weakens deltoid with numbness over the lateral upper arm.
- D: Radial injury causes wrist drop with dorsal hand numbness.
Remember this
Musculocutaneous injury weakens biceps and brachialis and numbs the lateral forearm.
Question 5 · Easy
The quadriceps femoris is innervated by which nerve?
1. AFemoral nerve
2. BObturator nerve
3. CSciatic nerve
4. DSuperior gluteal nerve
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Answer: A · Femoral nerve
The femoral nerve (L2-L4) supplies all four heads of the quadriceps, as well as sartorius and pectineus. Its saphenous branch is sensory to the medial leg. A lesion gives difficulty extending the knee.
- B: The obturator nerve supplies the adductors.
- C: The sciatic nerve supplies the hamstrings and the leg muscles.
- D: The superior gluteal nerve supplies gluteus medius and minimus.
Remember this
Femoral nerve supplies the quadriceps, sartorius and pectineus.
Question 6 · Easy
Which nerve supplies the adductor longus and gracilis?
1. AFemoral nerve
2. BSciatic nerve
3. CObturator nerve
4. DInferior gluteal nerve
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Medium
A patient with sciatica has weak toe walking, lateral foot numbness and a reduced ankle jerk. Which root is involved?
1. AS1
2. BL4
3. CL2
4. DL5
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Hard
Which hamstring component does not arise from the ischial tuberosity, so it does not act at the hip, and what is its nerve supply?
1. ALong head of biceps femoris, tibial nerve
2. BSemitendinosus, tibial nerve
3. CSemimembranosus, common fibular nerve
4. DShort head of biceps femoris, common fibular nerve
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Medium
Rectus abdominis arises from which bony site?
1. AAnterior superior iliac spine of the pelvis
2. BIliac crest
3. CPubic crest and pubic symphysis
4. DXiphoid process
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Medium
After a gunshot injury in Riyadh, a man has weakness and loss of vibration on his left leg and loss of pain and temperature on his right leg. Which syndrome is this?
1. APosterior cord syndrome
2. BCentral cord syndrome
3. CAnterior cord syndrome
4. DBrown-Sequard (hemisection) syndrome
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Hard
A runner has foot drop, weak ankle dorsiflexion and eversion, and numbness over the lateral calf and dorsum of the foot. Inversion strength is normal. What is the most likely site of the problem?
1. AL5 nerve root
2. BTibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel
3. CSciatic nerve in the gluteal region
4. DCommon peroneal nerve at the fibular head
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Medium
A man with ulnar neuropathy cannot keep the little finger beside the ring finger; it rests in abduction (Wartenberg sign). Which muscle is weak?
1. AAbductor digiti minimi
2. BPalmar interosseous to the little finger
3. CExtensor digiti minimi
4. DFlexor digiti minimi brevis
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Easy
The dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway carries which sensations?
1. AUnconscious proprioception to the cerebellum
2. BCrude touch and pressure only
3. CFine touch, vibration and proprioception
4. DPain and temperature
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Easy
The triceps tendon reflex mainly tests which spinal segment?
1. AC8
2. BC5
3. CT1
4. DC7
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Medium
Iliopsoas inserts on which site?
1. AGluteal tuberosity
2. BPectineal line of the femur
3. CLesser trochanter of the femur
4. DGreater trochanter
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Medium
Which nerve supplies the soleus and gastrocnemius?
1. ACommon fibular nerve
2. BSural nerve
3. CFemoral nerve
4. DTibial nerve
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Hard
After an anterior shoulder dislocation, a patient has difficulty with abduction from 15 to 90 degrees and a patch of numb skin over the lower deltoid. Which muscles are paralysed?
1. ASupraspinatus and infraspinatus
2. BDeltoid and supraspinatus
3. CDeltoid and teres minor
4. DTeres major and subscapularis
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Medium
Which nerve supplies the second lumbrical muscle?
1. ARadial nerve
2. BMedian nerve
3. CPosterior interosseous nerve
4. DUlnar nerve
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Medium
Where does the gastrocnemius arise?
1. AHead of the fibula and the soleal line
2. BTibial tuberosity
3. CLateral epicondyle only
4. DMedial and lateral femoral condyles
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Hard
A patient has weak wrist and finger extension and weak brachioradialis, with sensory loss over the dorsal first web space. Elbow extension and shoulder abduction are strong. Where is the lesion most likely?
1. AC7 nerve root
2. BPosterior interosseous nerve at the supinator
3. CRadial nerve in the spiral groove of the humerus
4. DPosterior cord of the brachial plexus
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Hard
A patient with ulnar neuropathy holds a sheet of paper between thumb and index finger and flexes the thumb interphalangeal joint to keep the grip (Froment sign). Which muscle and nerve produce this substitution?
1. AAdductor pollicis, ulnar nerve
2. BFlexor pollicis longus, anterior interosseous nerve
3. COpponens pollicis, recurrent median nerve
4. DExtensor pollicis longus, posterior interosseous nerve
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Medium
Which tendons form the pes anserinus on the medial upper tibia?
1. ASartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus
2. BGracilis, adductor magnus and semimembranosus
3. CRectus femoris, vastus medialis and sartorius
4. DSartorius, semimembranosus and biceps femoris
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Easy
Sensation at the level of the nipples is supplied by which thoracic dermatome?
1. AT1
2. BT6
3. CT4
4. DT10
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Medium
Which muscle is supplied by the posterior interosseous nerve?
1. ABrachioradialis
2. BExtensor carpi radialis longus
3. CAnconeus
4. DSupinator
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Medium
Which structure is the insertion of subscapularis?
1. ALesser tubercle of the humerus
2. BGreater tubercle of the humerus
3. CSurgical neck of the humerus
4. DDeltoid tuberosity
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

47 more Musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy questions

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Musculoskeletal and neuroanatomy

A patient has a claw hand, sensory loss on the medial forearm and a small constricted pupil on the same side after a traction injury. Which structure is most likely involved?

A patient with a supracondylar fracture cannot flex the interphalangeal joint of the thumb or the distal joint of the index finger when attempting an OK sign. Which structures are affected?

After a pelvic surgery, a woman has weak hip adduction and numbness of the medial thigh. Which nerve is most likely injured?

After a stab wound to the upper arm, a man has weak elbow flexion and supination and numbness along the lateral forearm. Which nerve was injured?

The quadriceps femoris is innervated by which nerve?

Which nerve supplies the adductor longus and gracilis?

A patient with sciatica has weak toe walking, lateral foot numbness and a reduced ankle jerk. Which root is involved?

Which hamstring component does not arise from the ischial tuberosity, so it does not act at the hip, and what is its nerve supply?

Rectus abdominis arises from which bony site?

After a gunshot injury in Riyadh, a man has weakness and loss of vibration on his left leg and loss of pain and temperature on his right leg. Which syndrome is this?

A runner has foot drop, weak ankle dorsiflexion and eversion, and numbness over the lateral calf and dorsum of the foot. Inversion strength is normal. What is the most likely site of the problem?

A man with ulnar neuropathy cannot keep the little finger beside the ring finger; it rests in abduction (Wartenberg sign). Which muscle is weak?

The dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway carries which sensations?

The triceps tendon reflex mainly tests which spinal segment?

Iliopsoas inserts on which site?

Which nerve supplies the soleus and gastrocnemius?

After an anterior shoulder dislocation, a patient has difficulty with abduction from 15 to 90 degrees and a patch of numb skin over the lower deltoid. Which muscles are paralysed?

Which nerve supplies the second lumbrical muscle?

Where does the gastrocnemius arise?

A patient has weak wrist and finger extension and weak brachioradialis, with sensory loss over the dorsal first web space. Elbow extension and shoulder abduction are strong. Where is the lesion most likely?

A patient with ulnar neuropathy holds a sheet of paper between thumb and index finger and flexes the thumb interphalangeal joint to keep the grip (Froment sign). Which muscle and nerve produce this substitution?

Which tendons form the pes anserinus on the medial upper tibia?

Sensation at the level of the nipples is supplied by which thoracic dermatome?

Which muscle is supplied by the posterior interosseous nerve?

Which structure is the insertion of subscapularis?