ANATOMY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS |
2026 UPDATE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: UPPER LIMB
1. Which of the following is the most common site of fracture of the clavicle?
• A) Medial third
• B) Middle third
• C) Lateral third
• D) Acromial end
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The clavicle most commonly fractures at the junction of the middle and
lateral thirds (middle third). This is the weakest point of the bone. The fracture
causes the shoulder to droop and the arm to be supported by the other hand.
2. The brachial plexus is formed by which spinal nerve roots?
• A) C1–C4
• B) C5–T1
• C) T1–T4
• D) L1–L4
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The brachial plexus is formed by the anterior rami of C5, C6, C7, C8, and
T1. It innervates the upper limb. The roots unite to form trunks, divisions, cords,
and terminal branches (Routine: Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches).
,3. Erb's point (Erb's palsy) is caused by injury to which spinal nerve roots?
• A) C5–C6
• B) C7–C8
• C) C8–T1
• D) T1–T2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Erb's palsy is caused by injury to C5–C6 nerve roots. It results in
"waiter's tip" position: adducted and internally rotated arm, extended elbow,
pronated forearm, and flexed wrist. It is often caused by excessive lateral traction
on the head during childbirth or trauma.
4. The axillary nerve innervates which muscle?
• A) Teres major
• B) Deltoid
• C) Latissimus dorsi
• D) Pectoralis major
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The axillary nerve (C5–C6) innervates the deltoid and teres minor. It also
provides sensation over the lateral shoulder. Injury to the axillary nerve causes
weakness of shoulder abduction and loss of sensation on the lateral shoulder.
5. The median nerve passes through which anatomical structure in the wrist?
• A) Guyon's canal
• B) Carpal tunnel
, • C) Anatomical snuffbox
• D) Cubital tunnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel along with the
flexor tendons (flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor
pollicis longus). Compression causes carpal tunnel syndrome: numbness and
tingling in the lateral three and a half fingers.
6. Which of the following is a clinical feature of carpal tunnel syndrome?
• A) Numbness of the little finger
• B) Numbness of the thumb, index, and middle fingers
• C) Weakness of the abductor digiti minimi
• D) Loss of sensation over the dorsal hand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve, which supplies
sensation to the thumb, index, middle, and lateral half of the ring finger. It also
innervates the thenar muscles (opponens pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis, flexor
pollicis brevis).
7. The radial nerve innervates which muscles?
• A) Flexors of the forearm
• B) Extensors of the forearm
• C) Thenar muscles
• D) Hypothenar muscles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The radial nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the forearm
, (extensor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum, extensor carpi ulnaris). Injury causes
wrist drop (inability to extend the wrist). The radial nerve also supplies sensation
to the dorsum of the hand.
8. The ulnar nerve passes through which anatomical structure in the elbow?
• A) Cubital tunnel
• B) Carpal tunnel
• C) Anatomical snuffbox
• D) Guyon's canal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The ulnar nerve passes through the cubital tunnel at the elbow (behind
the medial epicondyle). Compression causes cubital tunnel syndrome: numbness
and tingling in the ring and little fingers. The ulnar nerve innervates the
hypothenar muscles and most intrinsic hand muscles.
9. Which of the following is a clinical feature of ulnar nerve injury?
• A) Wrist drop
• B) Claw hand
• C) Ape hand
• D) Waiter's tip deformity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ulnar nerve injury causes claw hand (ulnar claw): hyperextension of the
MCP joints and flexion of the IP joints of the ring and little fingers. It is caused by
paralysis of the lumbricals and interossei muscles. Wrist drop is radial nerve injury.
10. The scapula articulates with which bone to form the shoulder joint?
2026 UPDATE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS.
SECTION 1: UPPER LIMB
1. Which of the following is the most common site of fracture of the clavicle?
• A) Medial third
• B) Middle third
• C) Lateral third
• D) Acromial end
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The clavicle most commonly fractures at the junction of the middle and
lateral thirds (middle third). This is the weakest point of the bone. The fracture
causes the shoulder to droop and the arm to be supported by the other hand.
2. The brachial plexus is formed by which spinal nerve roots?
• A) C1–C4
• B) C5–T1
• C) T1–T4
• D) L1–L4
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The brachial plexus is formed by the anterior rami of C5, C6, C7, C8, and
T1. It innervates the upper limb. The roots unite to form trunks, divisions, cords,
and terminal branches (Routine: Roots, Trunks, Divisions, Cords, Branches).
,3. Erb's point (Erb's palsy) is caused by injury to which spinal nerve roots?
• A) C5–C6
• B) C7–C8
• C) C8–T1
• D) T1–T2
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Erb's palsy is caused by injury to C5–C6 nerve roots. It results in
"waiter's tip" position: adducted and internally rotated arm, extended elbow,
pronated forearm, and flexed wrist. It is often caused by excessive lateral traction
on the head during childbirth or trauma.
4. The axillary nerve innervates which muscle?
• A) Teres major
• B) Deltoid
• C) Latissimus dorsi
• D) Pectoralis major
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The axillary nerve (C5–C6) innervates the deltoid and teres minor. It also
provides sensation over the lateral shoulder. Injury to the axillary nerve causes
weakness of shoulder abduction and loss of sensation on the lateral shoulder.
5. The median nerve passes through which anatomical structure in the wrist?
• A) Guyon's canal
• B) Carpal tunnel
, • C) Anatomical snuffbox
• D) Cubital tunnel
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel along with the
flexor tendons (flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor
pollicis longus). Compression causes carpal tunnel syndrome: numbness and
tingling in the lateral three and a half fingers.
6. Which of the following is a clinical feature of carpal tunnel syndrome?
• A) Numbness of the little finger
• B) Numbness of the thumb, index, and middle fingers
• C) Weakness of the abductor digiti minimi
• D) Loss of sensation over the dorsal hand
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve, which supplies
sensation to the thumb, index, middle, and lateral half of the ring finger. It also
innervates the thenar muscles (opponens pollicis, abductor pollicis brevis, flexor
pollicis brevis).
7. The radial nerve innervates which muscles?
• A) Flexors of the forearm
• B) Extensors of the forearm
• C) Thenar muscles
• D) Hypothenar muscles
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The radial nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the forearm
, (extensor carpi radialis, extensor digitorum, extensor carpi ulnaris). Injury causes
wrist drop (inability to extend the wrist). The radial nerve also supplies sensation
to the dorsum of the hand.
8. The ulnar nerve passes through which anatomical structure in the elbow?
• A) Cubital tunnel
• B) Carpal tunnel
• C) Anatomical snuffbox
• D) Guyon's canal
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The ulnar nerve passes through the cubital tunnel at the elbow (behind
the medial epicondyle). Compression causes cubital tunnel syndrome: numbness
and tingling in the ring and little fingers. The ulnar nerve innervates the
hypothenar muscles and most intrinsic hand muscles.
9. Which of the following is a clinical feature of ulnar nerve injury?
• A) Wrist drop
• B) Claw hand
• C) Ape hand
• D) Waiter's tip deformity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Ulnar nerve injury causes claw hand (ulnar claw): hyperextension of the
MCP joints and flexion of the IP joints of the ring and little fingers. It is caused by
paralysis of the lumbricals and interossei muscles. Wrist drop is radial nerve injury.
10. The scapula articulates with which bone to form the shoulder joint?
