BMSC501 Human Gross Anatomy Practice Questions
and Answers Updated 2026 | Complete Gross Anatomy
Study Guide with Verified Questions, Detailed
Rationales, Regional Anatomy, Musculoskeletal
System, Neuroanatomy, Cardiovascular Anatomy,
Thoracic, Abdominal & Pelvic Structures, Clinical
Correlations & Biomedical Science Exam Prep
Question 1: Which of the following structures passes through the foramen ovale of
the sphenoid bone?
A. Maxillary nerve (CN V2)
B. Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
C. Middle meningeal artery
D. Facial nerve (CN VII)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
Rationale: The foramen ovale transmits the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve
(CN V3), the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser petrosal nerve, and an emissary
vein. The maxillary nerve passes through the foramen rotundum, and the middle
meningeal artery passes through the foramen spinosum.
Question 2: A patient presents with a "winged scapula" after a mastectomy
involving axillary lymph node dissection. Which nerve was most likely injured?
A. Axillary nerve
B. Long thoracic nerve
C. Thoracodorsal nerve
D. Suprascapular nerve
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Long thoracic nerve
Rationale: The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle, which holds
the scapula against the thoracic wall. Injury to this nerve results in medial winging of the
scapula. This nerve is vulnerable during axillary surgery due to its course along the
lateral chest wall.
Question 3: Which of the following arteries is the primary blood supply to the head
of the femur in an adult?
A. Obturator artery
B. Medial circumflex femoral artery
C. Lateral circumflex femoral artery
D. Deep artery of the thigh (Profunda femoris)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Medial circumflex femoral artery
Rationale: In adults, the medial circumflex femoral artery provides the majority of the
blood supply to the head and neck of the femur via its retinacular branches. Disruption
,of this blood supply, often seen in femoral neck fractures, can lead to avascular
necrosis of the femoral head.
Question 4: During a physical examination, a patient is unable to extend their wrist,
resulting in "wrist drop." Which nerve is damaged?
A. Median nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Musculocutaneous nerve
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Radial nerve
Rationale: The radial nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the forearm, including
the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and extensor digitorum. Injury to the radial
nerve, particularly in the spiral groove of the humerus, leads to paralysis of these
extensors, causing wrist drop.
Question 5: Which structure forms the posterior boundary of the epiploic foramen
(Foramen of Winslow)?
A. Hepatoduodenal ligament
B. Inferior vena cava
C. First part of the duodenum
D. Caudate lobe of the liver
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Inferior vena cava
Rationale: The epiploic foramen connects the greater and lesser sacs. Its boundaries
are: anteriorly by the hepatoduodenal ligament (containing the portal triad), posteriorly
by the inferior vena cava and right crus of the diaphragm, superiorly by the caudate lobe
of the liver, and inferiorly by the first part of the duodenum.
Question 6: A lesion in the Broca’s area of the frontal lobe would most likely result
in which type of aphasia?
A. Wernicke’s aphasia
B. Global aphasia
C. Expressive (non-fluent) aphasia
D. Conduction aphasia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Expressive (non-fluent) aphasia
Rationale: Broca’s area, located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
(usually left), is responsible for motor speech production. Damage here causes
expressive aphasia, characterized by difficulty producing speech while comprehension
remains relatively intact.
Question 7: Which of the following muscles is primarily responsible for abduction
of the arm from 0 to 15 degrees?
, A. Deltoid
B. Supraspinatus
C. Trapezius
D. Serratus anterior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Supraspinatus
Rationale: The supraspinatus initiates abduction of the arm at the glenohumeral joint
for the first 0–15 degrees. The deltoid takes over as the primary abductor from 15 to 90
degrees, and the trapezius and serratus anterior rotate the scapula to allow abduction
above 90 degrees.
Question 8: The cremasteric reflex is mediated by which spinal nerve levels?
A. L1–L2
B. L3–L4
C. L5–S1
D. S2–S4
CORRECT ANSWER: A. L1–L2
Rationale: The cremasteric reflex involves the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve.
The afferent and efferent limbs travel through the L1 and L2 spinal segments. Stroking
the inner thigh causes contraction of the cremaster muscle, elevating the ipsilateral
testis.
Question 9: Which of the following structures is located within the carpal tunnel?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial artery
D. Palmaris longus tendon
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Median nerve
Rationale: The carpal tunnel contains the median nerve and the tendons of the flexor
digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, and flexor pollicis longus. The ulnar
nerve passes through Guyon’s canal, not the carpal tunnel. Compression of the median
nerve here causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Question 10: What is the primary action of the pterygoid muscles of mastication?
A. Elevation of the mandible
B. Depression of the mandible
C. Protrusion and side-to-side movement of the mandible
D. Retraction of the mandible
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Protrusion and side-to-side movement of the mandible
Rationale: The lateral pterygoid protrudes the mandible and moves it side-to-side for
grinding. The medial pterygoid assists in elevation and side-to-side movement.
and Answers Updated 2026 | Complete Gross Anatomy
Study Guide with Verified Questions, Detailed
Rationales, Regional Anatomy, Musculoskeletal
System, Neuroanatomy, Cardiovascular Anatomy,
Thoracic, Abdominal & Pelvic Structures, Clinical
Correlations & Biomedical Science Exam Prep
Question 1: Which of the following structures passes through the foramen ovale of
the sphenoid bone?
A. Maxillary nerve (CN V2)
B. Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
C. Middle meningeal artery
D. Facial nerve (CN VII)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mandibular nerve (CN V3)
Rationale: The foramen ovale transmits the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve
(CN V3), the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser petrosal nerve, and an emissary
vein. The maxillary nerve passes through the foramen rotundum, and the middle
meningeal artery passes through the foramen spinosum.
Question 2: A patient presents with a "winged scapula" after a mastectomy
involving axillary lymph node dissection. Which nerve was most likely injured?
A. Axillary nerve
B. Long thoracic nerve
C. Thoracodorsal nerve
D. Suprascapular nerve
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Long thoracic nerve
Rationale: The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle, which holds
the scapula against the thoracic wall. Injury to this nerve results in medial winging of the
scapula. This nerve is vulnerable during axillary surgery due to its course along the
lateral chest wall.
Question 3: Which of the following arteries is the primary blood supply to the head
of the femur in an adult?
A. Obturator artery
B. Medial circumflex femoral artery
C. Lateral circumflex femoral artery
D. Deep artery of the thigh (Profunda femoris)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Medial circumflex femoral artery
Rationale: In adults, the medial circumflex femoral artery provides the majority of the
blood supply to the head and neck of the femur via its retinacular branches. Disruption
,of this blood supply, often seen in femoral neck fractures, can lead to avascular
necrosis of the femoral head.
Question 4: During a physical examination, a patient is unable to extend their wrist,
resulting in "wrist drop." Which nerve is damaged?
A. Median nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Musculocutaneous nerve
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Radial nerve
Rationale: The radial nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the forearm, including
the extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis, and extensor digitorum. Injury to the radial
nerve, particularly in the spiral groove of the humerus, leads to paralysis of these
extensors, causing wrist drop.
Question 5: Which structure forms the posterior boundary of the epiploic foramen
(Foramen of Winslow)?
A. Hepatoduodenal ligament
B. Inferior vena cava
C. First part of the duodenum
D. Caudate lobe of the liver
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Inferior vena cava
Rationale: The epiploic foramen connects the greater and lesser sacs. Its boundaries
are: anteriorly by the hepatoduodenal ligament (containing the portal triad), posteriorly
by the inferior vena cava and right crus of the diaphragm, superiorly by the caudate lobe
of the liver, and inferiorly by the first part of the duodenum.
Question 6: A lesion in the Broca’s area of the frontal lobe would most likely result
in which type of aphasia?
A. Wernicke’s aphasia
B. Global aphasia
C. Expressive (non-fluent) aphasia
D. Conduction aphasia
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Expressive (non-fluent) aphasia
Rationale: Broca’s area, located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the dominant hemisphere
(usually left), is responsible for motor speech production. Damage here causes
expressive aphasia, characterized by difficulty producing speech while comprehension
remains relatively intact.
Question 7: Which of the following muscles is primarily responsible for abduction
of the arm from 0 to 15 degrees?
, A. Deltoid
B. Supraspinatus
C. Trapezius
D. Serratus anterior
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Supraspinatus
Rationale: The supraspinatus initiates abduction of the arm at the glenohumeral joint
for the first 0–15 degrees. The deltoid takes over as the primary abductor from 15 to 90
degrees, and the trapezius and serratus anterior rotate the scapula to allow abduction
above 90 degrees.
Question 8: The cremasteric reflex is mediated by which spinal nerve levels?
A. L1–L2
B. L3–L4
C. L5–S1
D. S2–S4
CORRECT ANSWER: A. L1–L2
Rationale: The cremasteric reflex involves the genital branch of the genitofemoral nerve.
The afferent and efferent limbs travel through the L1 and L2 spinal segments. Stroking
the inner thigh causes contraction of the cremaster muscle, elevating the ipsilateral
testis.
Question 9: Which of the following structures is located within the carpal tunnel?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial artery
D. Palmaris longus tendon
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Median nerve
Rationale: The carpal tunnel contains the median nerve and the tendons of the flexor
digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, and flexor pollicis longus. The ulnar
nerve passes through Guyon’s canal, not the carpal tunnel. Compression of the median
nerve here causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Question 10: What is the primary action of the pterygoid muscles of mastication?
A. Elevation of the mandible
B. Depression of the mandible
C. Protrusion and side-to-side movement of the mandible
D. Retraction of the mandible
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Protrusion and side-to-side movement of the mandible
Rationale: The lateral pterygoid protrudes the mandible and moves it side-to-side for
grinding. The medial pterygoid assists in elevation and side-to-side movement.
