USMLE Anatomy Exam Questions with
Answers
1. Kyphosis correct answer Exaggerated over-curvature of thoracic area of vertebral column
2. Scoliosis correct answer Lateral deviation of vertebral column
3. Transverse foramina correct answer Major feature of cervical vertebrae
4. L4 correct answer Vertebra located at level of iliac crest
5. Ligamentum flavum correct answer Ligament that connects internal surface of laminae of
vertebrae
6. Anterior longitudinal correct answer Ligament that checks hyperextension of vertebral
column
7. Anterior longitudinal correct answer Ligament attected by whiplash injury
8. Alar correct answer Ligament which limits skull rotation
9. Pedicle correct answer Defective portion of vertebra with spondylolisthesis in cervical area
10. Pars interarticularis, Lamina correct answer Defective portion of vertebra with
spondylolisthesis in lumbar area
11. Posterior correct answer Common direction of all superior articular facets of vertebrae
12. Transverse ligament of atlas (part of cruciate) correct answer Structure in
contact with posterior surface of dens
13. L4-5 correct answer Most commonly herniated intervertebral disc
14. L5 correct answer Most common nerve compressed with herniated intervertebral disc
15. C6 correct answer Spinal nerve attected by protrusion of the disc between C5/6
16. sixth correct answer Thoracic intercostal space located deep to triangle of auscultation
17. L4 correct answer Vertebral level of lumbar puncture
18. Suboccipital nerve correct answer Innervation of suboccipital muscles
19. Semispinalis capitis correct answer Roof of suboccipital triangle
20. Posterior arch of atlas;
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane correct answer Floor of suboccipital
triangle
21. Vertebral artery correct answer Major vessel within suboccipital triangle
22. Greater occipital nerve correct answer Synonym for dorsal ramus of C2
23. SV2 correct answer Inferior extent of dura-arachnoid sac
,24. LV2 correct answer Inferior extent of spinal cord
25. Epidural space correct answer Location of internal vertebral plexus
26. Clavicle correct answer Most frequently fractured bone of body
27. Lunate correct answer Most frequently dislocated carpal bone
28. Scaphoid correct answer Most frequently fracture carpal bone
29. Colle's fracture correct answer Name of fracture of distal radius that produces "dinner
fork" appearance
30. Axillary correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of surgical neck of humerus
, 31. Ulnar correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of medial humeral epicondyle
32. Radial correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of shaft of humerus
33. Radial correct answer Nerve injured in wrist drop
34. Deltoid correct answer Muscle that is chief flexor and chief extensor at shoulder joint
35. Deltoid and teres minor correct answer Muscles innervated by axillary nerve
36. Supraspinatus correct answer Muscle that initiates abduction of arm
37. Supraspinatus correct answer Most commonly torn tendon of rotator cutt
38. Trapezius and serratus anterior correct answer Two muscles that rotate scapula
for full abduction of arm
39. Long head of biceps correct answer Tendon that courses through shoulder joint
40. Biceps brachii correct answer Chief supinator muscle of hand
41. Long thoracic nerve correct answer Injury to what nerve causes winged scapula
42. C5 and C6 correct answer Spinal levels of axillary nerve
43. C8 and T1 correct answer Spinal levels to muscles of the hand
44. C6 correct answer Dermatome of thumb
45. Recurrent branch of Median correct answer Nerve to thenar compartment
46. Ulnar (deep br.) correct answer Innervation of adductor pollicis
47. Ulnar (deep br.) correct answer Innervation to all interosseous muscles
48. Shoulder correct answer Region attected by upper trunk injury of brachial plexus
49. Intrinsic hand muscles correct answer Region attected by lower trunk injury of
brachial plexus
50. Median correct answer Nerve compressed with carpal tunnel syndrome
51. Ulnar correct answer Nerve attected by cubital tunnel syndrome
52. Lumbricals correct answer Paralysis of which muscles results in total "claw" hand
53. Inguinal ligament, sartorius and adductor longus correct answer
Boundaries of femoral triangle
54. Femoral nerve correct answer Structure immediately lateral to femoral sheath
55. Femoral vein correct answer Structure immediately medial to femoral artery in femoral
sheath
56. Deep inguinal lymph nodes correct answer Contents of femoral canal
57. Lacunar ligament correct answer Medial boundary of femoral ring
58. Femoral artery and vein correct answer Structures that course throughout entire
length of adductor canal
Answers
1. Kyphosis correct answer Exaggerated over-curvature of thoracic area of vertebral column
2. Scoliosis correct answer Lateral deviation of vertebral column
3. Transverse foramina correct answer Major feature of cervical vertebrae
4. L4 correct answer Vertebra located at level of iliac crest
5. Ligamentum flavum correct answer Ligament that connects internal surface of laminae of
vertebrae
6. Anterior longitudinal correct answer Ligament that checks hyperextension of vertebral
column
7. Anterior longitudinal correct answer Ligament attected by whiplash injury
8. Alar correct answer Ligament which limits skull rotation
9. Pedicle correct answer Defective portion of vertebra with spondylolisthesis in cervical area
10. Pars interarticularis, Lamina correct answer Defective portion of vertebra with
spondylolisthesis in lumbar area
11. Posterior correct answer Common direction of all superior articular facets of vertebrae
12. Transverse ligament of atlas (part of cruciate) correct answer Structure in
contact with posterior surface of dens
13. L4-5 correct answer Most commonly herniated intervertebral disc
14. L5 correct answer Most common nerve compressed with herniated intervertebral disc
15. C6 correct answer Spinal nerve attected by protrusion of the disc between C5/6
16. sixth correct answer Thoracic intercostal space located deep to triangle of auscultation
17. L4 correct answer Vertebral level of lumbar puncture
18. Suboccipital nerve correct answer Innervation of suboccipital muscles
19. Semispinalis capitis correct answer Roof of suboccipital triangle
20. Posterior arch of atlas;
posterior atlanto-occipital membrane correct answer Floor of suboccipital
triangle
21. Vertebral artery correct answer Major vessel within suboccipital triangle
22. Greater occipital nerve correct answer Synonym for dorsal ramus of C2
23. SV2 correct answer Inferior extent of dura-arachnoid sac
,24. LV2 correct answer Inferior extent of spinal cord
25. Epidural space correct answer Location of internal vertebral plexus
26. Clavicle correct answer Most frequently fractured bone of body
27. Lunate correct answer Most frequently dislocated carpal bone
28. Scaphoid correct answer Most frequently fracture carpal bone
29. Colle's fracture correct answer Name of fracture of distal radius that produces "dinner
fork" appearance
30. Axillary correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of surgical neck of humerus
, 31. Ulnar correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of medial humeral epicondyle
32. Radial correct answer Nerve injured with fracture of shaft of humerus
33. Radial correct answer Nerve injured in wrist drop
34. Deltoid correct answer Muscle that is chief flexor and chief extensor at shoulder joint
35. Deltoid and teres minor correct answer Muscles innervated by axillary nerve
36. Supraspinatus correct answer Muscle that initiates abduction of arm
37. Supraspinatus correct answer Most commonly torn tendon of rotator cutt
38. Trapezius and serratus anterior correct answer Two muscles that rotate scapula
for full abduction of arm
39. Long head of biceps correct answer Tendon that courses through shoulder joint
40. Biceps brachii correct answer Chief supinator muscle of hand
41. Long thoracic nerve correct answer Injury to what nerve causes winged scapula
42. C5 and C6 correct answer Spinal levels of axillary nerve
43. C8 and T1 correct answer Spinal levels to muscles of the hand
44. C6 correct answer Dermatome of thumb
45. Recurrent branch of Median correct answer Nerve to thenar compartment
46. Ulnar (deep br.) correct answer Innervation of adductor pollicis
47. Ulnar (deep br.) correct answer Innervation to all interosseous muscles
48. Shoulder correct answer Region attected by upper trunk injury of brachial plexus
49. Intrinsic hand muscles correct answer Region attected by lower trunk injury of
brachial plexus
50. Median correct answer Nerve compressed with carpal tunnel syndrome
51. Ulnar correct answer Nerve attected by cubital tunnel syndrome
52. Lumbricals correct answer Paralysis of which muscles results in total "claw" hand
53. Inguinal ligament, sartorius and adductor longus correct answer
Boundaries of femoral triangle
54. Femoral nerve correct answer Structure immediately lateral to femoral sheath
55. Femoral vein correct answer Structure immediately medial to femoral artery in femoral
sheath
56. Deep inguinal lymph nodes correct answer Contents of femoral canal
57. Lacunar ligament correct answer Medial boundary of femoral ring
58. Femoral artery and vein correct answer Structures that course throughout entire
length of adductor canal
