Upper Limb Practice Questions

Q: Insertion of levator scapulae is?

Superior part of medial scapula border. ***Superior part of medial scapula border*** - The **levator scapulae muscle** originates from the **transverse processes of C1-C4 vertebrae** and **inserts** onto the superior part of the medial border of the scapula, between the **superior angle and the spine of the scapula**. - Its main actions are to **elevate** and **rotate** the scapula downward. *Lateral border of scapula* - The **lateral border of the scapula** primarily serves as the attachment site for muscles that move the **humerus**, such as the **teres major** and **teres minor**. - The levator scapulae has no direct insertion on the lateral border. *Suprolateral part of scapula* - This general description is vague and does not precisely identify the insertion point of the levator scapulae. - While it's located superiorly, the specific insertion is on the **medial border**, not broadly "suprolateral." *Inferior angle of scapula* - The **inferior angle of the scapula** is the insertion point for muscles like the **latissimus dorsi** (occasionally) and a key landmark for muscles involved in **scapular rotation**, such as the **serratus anterior**. - The levator scapulae is located much more superiorly and inserts onto the medial border at a higher level than the inferior angle.

Q: Teres minor is supplied by

Axillary nerve. ***Axillary nerve*** - The **axillary nerve** (C5-C6) innervates both the **teres minor** and the **deltoid muscle**. - It arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus and traverses the quadrangular space. *Suprascapular nerve* - The **suprascapular nerve** (C5-C6) primarily supplies the **supraspinatus** and **infraspinatus** muscles. - It plays a crucial role in shoulder abduction and external rotation, but not directly in teres minor function. *Lower subscapular nerve* - The **lower subscapular nerve** (C5-C6) innervates the **subscapularis muscle** and **teres major**. - Teres major and teres minor are anatomically adjacent but have different innervations and functions. *Thoracodorsal nerve* - The **thoracodorsal nerve** (C6-C8) innervates the **latissimus dorsi muscle** [1]. - This nerve is distinct from those supplying the rotator cuff muscles, including teres minor.

Q: What is the medial boundary of the cubital fossa?

Pronator teres. ***Pronator teres*** - The **pronator teres muscle** forms the **medial boundary** of the cubital fossa, running obliquely from the medial epicondyle to the lateral side of the radius. - This muscle defines the medial aspect of the triangular space at the anterior elbow. *Brachioradialis* - The **brachioradialis** muscle forms the **lateral boundary** of the cubital fossa. - It arises from the humerus and inserts into the distal radius, helping to delineate the region laterally. *Supinator* - The **supinator muscle** is located deep within the forearm and is not a direct boundary of the cubital fossa. - It lies on the posterior aspect of the radius and ulna, deep to some of the cubital fossa contents. *None of the options* - This option is incorrect because the **pronator teres** clearly defines the medial boundary of the cubital fossa.

Q: A person is not able to extend his metacarpophalangeal joint. Injury to which of the following nerve result in this?

Posterior Interosseous nerve injury. Posterior Interosseous Nerve (PIN) injury - The Posterior Interosseous Nerve is the deep motor branch of the radial nerve that specifically innervates the extensor muscles of the fingers and thumb - These muscles include: Extensor Digitorum, Extensor Indicis, Extensor Digiti Minimi, Extensor Pollicis Longus and Brevis [1] - PIN injury causes inability to extend the MCP joints and interphalangeal joints of the fingers [1] - Wrist extension is preserved because the Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus (ECRL) and often ECRB are innervated by the radial nerve proper before it gives off the PIN [1] - This results in a characteristic finger drop without wrist drop Radial nerve injury - A high radial nerve injury (proximal, above the elbow) would cause both wrist drop AND finger extension loss - However, radial nerve injury at the spiral groove (most common site) typically spares the PIN or affects it less severely - The question asks specifically about isolated inability to extend MCP joints, which is the hallmark of PIN injury, not general radial nerve injury - Radial nerve proper gives branches to triceps, brachioradialis, and ECRL before dividing into PIN and superficial branch Ulnar nerve injury - The ulnar nerve innervates intrinsic hand muscles (interossei, lumbricals to digits 4-5, hypothenar muscles, adductor pollicis) [1] - Ulnar nerve injury causes claw hand deformity with MCP hyperextension (not loss of extension) and IP joint flexion - This is the opposite of what is described in the question Median nerve injury - The median nerve innervates the thenar muscles, lateral two lumbricals, and forearm flexors [1] - Median nerve injury causes ape hand deformity with loss of thumb opposition and flexion - It does not affect MCP joint extension, which is an extensor function

Q: Tetracycline injection causes palsy of which nerve?

Radial. ***Radial*** - Tetracycline injections, especially when given in the deltoid region, can inadvertently injure the **radial nerve** due to its superficial course. - Damage to the radial nerve typically results in **wrist drop** and sensory deficits over the dorsum of the hand. *Ulnar* - The **ulnar nerve** is commonly injured at the elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) or wrist (Guyon's canal). - Injury typically results in weakness of intrinsic hand muscles and sensory loss in the little finger and ulnar half of the ring finger, which is not characteristic of an injection injury in the deltoid region. *Median* - The **median nerve** is more frequently injured at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) or elbow. - Injury causes difficulty with thumb opposition and sensation in the first three and a half digits on the palmar side. *Superficial peroneal* - The **superficial peroneal nerve** is found in the lower leg and foot, innervating the lateral compartment muscles and providing sensation to the dorsum of the foot. - It would not be affected by an injection in the upper arm or shoulder region.

Q: How many ossification centers develop at the distal end of the humerus?

3. ***3*** - The distal end of the humerus develops **three primary ossification centers**: the capitellum, trochlea, and medial epicondyle [1]. - These centers appear sequentially and their ossification pattern is important for assessing **skeletal maturity** in children using the CRITOE mnemonic [1]. - The capitellum appears at 1 year, medial epicondyle at 5 years, and trochlea at 9 years. *2* - This number is too low and only accounts for the **capitellum and medial epicondyle**, missing the trochlea. - While these are the first two to appear, there is an additional primary ossification center (trochlea) that develops later. *5* - This number is incorrect; there are only **three primary ossification centers** at the distal humerus, not five. - This may cause confusion with other joints or by counting secondary ossification centers. *4* - This number is incorrect; while the lateral epicondyle does ossify, it is not consistently counted as a **primary ossification center**. - The standard anatomical teaching recognizes **three primary centers**: capitellum, trochlea, and medial epicondyle.

Q: Axillary nerve is accompanied by which artery ?

Posterior circumflex humeral artery. ***Posterior circumflex humeral artery*** - The **axillary nerve** and the **posterior circumflex humeral artery** both pass through the **quadrangular space** in the axilla. - This anatomical relationship makes them vulnerable to injury together, particularly in cases of **shoulder dislocation** or **fractures of the surgical neck of the humerus**. *Axillary artery* - The **axillary artery** is the main arterial trunk of the axilla, but the axillary nerve is not typically described as directly accompanying the main trunk. - While branches of the axillary artery do supply the region where the axillary nerve travels, the specific artery that accompanies the nerve is a direct branch. *Subscapular artery* - The **subscapular artery** is the largest branch of the axillary artery and gives rise to the circumflex scapular and thoracodorsal arteries. - It does not directly accompany the axillary nerve through the quadrangular space; instead, it mostly supplies muscles like the **subscapularis** and **latissimus dorsi**. *Anterior circumflex humeral artery* - The **anterior circumflex humeral artery** also branches from the axillary artery and wraps around the surgical neck of the humerus. - However, it typically runs anteriorly and does not accompany the axillary nerve as it emerges from the quadrangular space posteriorly.

Q: Which nerve runs along with the profunda brachii artery in the spiral groove?

Radial nerve. ***Radial nerve*** - The **radial nerve** courses through the **radial (spiral) groove** of the humerus in close association with the **profunda brachii artery** (also known as the deep brachial artery). - This anatomical relationship makes both structures vulnerable to injury in cases of **mid-shaft humeral fractures** [1]. *Ulnar nerve* - The **ulnar nerve** typically runs behind the **medial epicondyle of the humerus** and does not accompany the profunda brachii artery in the spiral groove. - Its main course in the arm is medial to the brachial artery, then it enters the forearm by passing posterior to the medial epicondyle. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** travels in the anterior compartment of the arm, generally in close proximity to the **brachial artery**, but it does not enter the radial groove. - It maintains a superficial position in the cubital fossa before entering the forearm between the heads of pronator teres. *No nerve* - This option is incorrect because the **radial nerve** is well-documented to run alongside the profunda brachii artery in the radial groove. - This anatomical fact is clinically significant due to the risk of nerve injury with humeral fractures [1].

Q: All of the following muscles have dual nerve supply except which one?

Biceps brachii. ***Biceps brachii*** - The **biceps brachii** muscle is solely innervated by the **musculocutaneous nerve (C5, C6, C7)**. - This muscle is a prime mover for forearm supination and elbow flexion and does not receive nerve supply from any other nerve. *Subscapularis* - The **subscapularis** muscle has a dual nerve supply from both the **upper and lower subscapular nerves (C5, C6)**. - This dual innervation ensures motor control of the subscapularis, which is an important medial rotator of the humerus. *Pectoralis major* - The **pectoralis major** muscle receives a dual nerve supply from both the **medial and lateral pectoral nerves** [1]. - The **lateral pectoral nerve** primarily supplies the clavicular head, while the **medial pectoral nerve** supplies both the sternocostal head and a portion of the clavicular head [1]. *Flexor digitorum profundus* - The **flexor digitorum profundus** muscle has a dual nerve supply from the **median nerve** (innervating the lateral half for digits 2 and 3) and the **ulnar nerve** (innervating the medial half for digits 4 and 5). - This dual innervation allows for independent or coordinated flexion of the distal phalanges of the fingers.

Q: Which muscle will be paralyzed when the radial nerve is injured just below the spiral groove?

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis. Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis - The radial nerve travels in the spiral groove of the humerus and gives off branches in a specific sequence. - Proximal to the spiral groove: Branches to triceps and anconeus - Within/at the spiral groove: Branches to brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) - Just distal to the spiral groove: Branch to extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) [1] - this is the first branch after exiting the spiral groove - More distally: The nerve divides into superficial and deep branches (posterior interosseous nerve) [1] - An injury just below the spiral groove would paralyze ECRB while sparing muscles innervated proximal to or within the groove (triceps, anconeus, brachioradialis, ECRL). Supinator - The supinator is innervated by the deep branch of the radial nerve (posterior interosseous nerve), which branches off more distally in the proximal forearm. - This muscle would only be affected by injuries distal to the bifurcation of the radial nerve into superficial and deep branches, not by an injury just below the spiral groove. Extensor Digitorum - The extensor digitorum is supplied by the posterior interosseous nerve, which is a continuation of the deep branch [1]. - This innervation occurs significantly distal to the spiral groove in the posterior forearm compartment. - It would be affected by posterior interosseous nerve injuries, not by lesions just below the spiral groove. Abductor Pollicis Longus - The abductor pollicis longus is innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve in the distal forearm [1]. - This is the most distal of all the options and would only be affected by posterior interosseous nerve palsy, not by radial nerve injury at the spiral groove level [1].

Question 1

Insertion of levator scapulae is?

Accepted Answer

Superior part of medial scapula border

Answer

Lateral border of scapula

Answer

Suprolateral part of scapula

Answer

Inferior angle of scapula

Question 2

Teres minor is supplied by

Accepted Answer

Axillary nerve

Answer

Suprascapular nerve

Answer

Lower subscapular nerve

Answer

Thoracodorsal nerve

Question 3

What is the medial boundary of the cubital fossa?

Accepted Answer

Pronator teres

Answer

Brachioradialis

Answer

Supinator

Answer

None of the options

Question 4

A person is not able to extend his metacarpophalangeal joint. Injury to which of the following nerve result in this?

Accepted Answer

Posterior Interosseous nerve injury

Answer

Radial nerve injury

Answer

Ulnar nerve injury

Answer

Median nerve injury

Question 5

Tetracycline injection causes palsy of which nerve?

Accepted Answer

Radial

Answer

Median

Answer

Ulnar

Answer

Superficial peroneal

Question 6

How many ossification centers develop at the distal end of the humerus?

Accepted Answer

3

Answer

2

Answer

5

Answer

4

Question 7

Axillary nerve is accompanied by which artery ?

Accepted Answer

Posterior circumflex humeral artery

Answer

Axillary artery

Answer

Subscapular artery

Answer

Anterior circumflex humeral artery

Question 8

Which nerve runs along with the profunda brachii artery in the spiral groove?

Accepted Answer

Radial nerve

Answer

Ulnar nerve

Answer

Median nerve

Answer

No nerve

Question 9

All of the following muscles have dual nerve supply except which one?

Accepted Answer

Biceps brachii

Answer

Pectoralis major

Answer

Flexor digitorum profundus

Answer

Subscapularis

Question 10

Which muscle will be paralyzed when the radial nerve is injured just below the spiral groove?

Accepted Answer

Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis

Answer

Extensor Digitorum

Answer

Supinator

Answer

Abductor Pollicis Longus

Upper Limb — MCQs

Upper Limb — MCQs

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