AAO UE Practice Questions

If a muscle has the word "carpi" in its name, it typically inserts on the: A. base of the metacarpal B. distal row of carpal bones C. head of the metacarpal D. proximal phalanx E. proximal row of carpal bones

A. base of the metacarpal

Which of the following travels through the carpal tunnel? A. flexor pollicis longus tendon B. palmar branch of median nerve C. palmaris brevis D. radial artery E. ulnar nerve

A. flexor pollicis longus tendon

The trochlea is a feature of the: A. humerus B. radius C. scapula D. ulna

A. humerus

Which muscle originates from the posterior aspect of the humerus superior to the radial groove? A. lateral head of triceps B. long head of biceps C. long head of triceps D. medial head of triceps E. short head of biceps

A. lateral head of triceps

The central band of the extensor digitorum tendon inserts on the: A. base of the distal phalanx B. base of the middle phalanx C. base of the proximal phalanx D. head of the distal phalanx E. head of the middle phalanx F. head of the proximal phalanx

B. base of the middle phalanx

Your patient in the ED was stabbed in the back (literally!) and the knife penetrated the triangular space. Which artery was most likely severed by the knife? A. anterior circumflex humeral B. circumflex scapular C. dorsal scapular D. posterior circumflex humeral E. suprascapular

B. circumflex scapular

Which tendon does not form a border of the anatomical snuff box? A. abductor pollicis longus B. extensor indicis C. extensor pollicis brevis D. extensor pollicis longus

B. extensor indicis

Which landmark marks the location where the subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery? A. clavicle B. first rib C. inferior border of teres major D. lateral border of pectoralis minor E. medial border of pectoralis minor

B. first rib

Your patient has a herniated disc that is compressing the C8 spinal nerve. The patient would most likely be experienceing sensory loss in the skin of the: A. anterior chest wall B. little finger C. medial side of the forearm D. middle finger E. thumb

B. little finger

Which nerve is medial to the brachial artery in the cubital fossa? A. axillary B. median C. musculocutaneous D. radial E. ulnar

B. median

If your patient couldn't pronate her forearm, you might suspect damage to the: A. axillary nerve B. median nerve C. musculocutaneous nerve D. radial nerve E. ulnar nerve

B. median nerve

The triceps brachii inserts on the: A. capitulum B. olecranon C. radial tuberosity D. shaft of the humerus E. ulnar tuberosity

B. olecranon

Which of the following medially (internally) rotates the humerus? A. infraspinatus B. pectoralis major C. pectoralis minor D. serratus anterior E. teres minor

B. pectoralis major

Which artery has four branches that supply the shoulder region? A. lateral thoracic B. thoracoacromial trunk C. thyrocervical trunk D. subscapular E. supreme (superior) thoracic

B. thoracoacromial trunk

How many muscles insert on the greater tubercle of the humerus? A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. none; muscles originate from this structure but don't insert

C. 3

The brachial plexus is formed by: A. C5-T1 dorsal rami B. C5-T1 dorsal roots C. C5-T1 ventral rami D. C5-T1 ventral roots E. C5-T1 spinal nerves

C. C5-T1 ventral rami

Which two structures travel through the quadrangular space? A. axillary nerve and circumflex scapular artery B. axillary nerve and dorsal scapular artery C. axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery D. suprascapular nerve and circumflex scapular artery E. suprascapular nerve and dorsal scapular artery F. suprascapular nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery

C. axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery

Which artery travels with the radial nerve in the radial groove? A. anterior circumflex humeral B. brachial C. deep (profunda) brachial D. posterior circumflex humeral E. radial

C. deep (profunda) brachial

Which muscle does not originate from the common flexor tendon? A. flexor carpi radialis B. flexor digitorum superficialis C. flexor pollicis longus D. palmaris longus E. pronator teres

C. flexor pollicis longus

Which artery is typically a direct branch of the axillary artery? A. circumflex scapular B. dorsal scapular C. lateral thoracic D. suprascapular E. thoracodorsal

C. lateral thoracic

The anterior axillary fold is formed by: A. deltoid B. latissimus dorsi C. pectoralis major D. serratus anterior E. subscapularis

C. pectoralis major

What are the primary movements that occur at the distal radio-ulnar joint? A. abduction and adduction B. flexion and extension C. pronation and supination

C. pronation and supination

The superficial branch of the radial nerve: A. innervates brachioradialis B. innervates supinator C. supplies skin of the dorsal hand D. supplies skin of the posterior forearm E. travels deep to the extensor digitorum muscle

C. supplies skin of the dorsal hand

How many intrinsic muscles of the hand does the median nerve innervate? A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5 E. 6

D. 5

The lumbrical muscles: A. extend the carpometacarpal joints B. extend the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints C. flex the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint D. flex the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints E. flex the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint

D. flex the metacarpophalangeal (MP) joints

Which muscle flexes the distal phalanx of the middle finger? A. 2nd lumbrical B. flexor carpi radialis C. flexor digitorum superficialis D. flexor digitorum profundus E. palmaris longus

D. flexor digitorum profundus

A weight-lifter has increased the frequency of his training to prepare for an upcoming competition. Recently he noticed a loss of sensation over the lateral side of his forearm, and his ability to supinate is weaker than normal. Which of the following could account for his symptoms? A. damage to the medial cord of the brachial plexus B. impingement of the radial nerve C. partial tearing of the brachialis tendon D. hypertrophy of the coracobrachialis muscle

D. hypertrophy of the coracobrachialis muscle

Which of the following muscles has the ability to extend the arm? A. biceps brachii B. brachialis C. lateral head of triceps brachii D. long head of triceps brachii E. both A and B F. both C and D

D. long head of triceps brachii

The nerve that becomes the posterior interosseous nerve is the: A. axillary nerve B. median nerve C. musculocutaneous nerve D. radial nerve E. ulnar nerve

D. radial nerve

Your patient has a laceration over the thenar eminence that has damaged a nerve. He is having difficulty moving his thumb, especially with opposition. He most likely damaged the: A. deep branch of the radial nerve B. deep branch of the ulnar nerve C. palmar branch of the median nerve D. recurrent branch of the median nerve E. superficial branch of the radial nerve F. superficial branch of the ulnar nerve

D. recurrent branch of the median nerve

Which muscle protracts the scapula? A. deltoid B. infraspinatus C. pectoralis major D. serratus anterior E. subscapularis

D. serratus anterior

A patient is having trouble initiating the first 15 degrees of abduction of the humerus and you determine that the problem is caused by nerve damage. Which of the following has most likely been injured? A. axillary nerve B. dorsal scapular nerve C. long thoracic nerve D. suprascapular nerve E. upper subscapular nerve

D. suprascapular nerve

Which muscle is not part of the rotator cuff? A. infraspinatus B. subscapularis C. supraspinatus D. teres major E. teres minor

D. teres major

Which digital sheath is continuous with the common flexor sheath? A. 1st B. 2nd C. 3rd D. 4th E. 5th

E. 5th

The axillary nerve is a direct branch of the: A. inferior (lower) trunk B. lateral cord C. medial cord D. middle trunk E. posterior cord

E. posterior cord

The long head of the biceps originates on the: A. acromion B. coracoid process C. greater tubercle of the humerus D. radial tuberosity E. supraglenoid tubercle

E. supraglenoid tubercle

Which of the following is the primary blood supply of the latissimus dorsi? A. anterior circumflex humeral artery B. circumflex scapular artery C. lateral thoracic artery D. thoracoacromial trunk E. thoracodorsal artery

E. thoracodorsal artery

The coronoid process is a landmark on the: A. clavicle B. humerus C. radius D. scapula E. ulna

E. ulna

Which nerve travels posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus? A. axillary B. median C. musculocutaneous D. radial E. ulnar

E. ulnar

The superficial palmar arterial arch receives its primary contribution from the: A. anterior interosseous artery B. common interosseous artery C. posterior interosseous artery D. radial artery E. ulnar artery

E. ulnar artery

The medial cord has five branches, and four of the five branches have the word "medial" in their names. Which branch of the medial cord does not have the word "medial" in its name? A. lower subscapular nerve B. median nerve C. musculocutaneous nerve D. suprascapular nerve E. ulnar nerve

E. ulnar nerve