Test Bank For Plastic Surgery: Volume 6,
5th Edition
Author :
Peter C. Neligan
,Chapter 1.1: Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Hand
1. Which of the following muscles is primarily responsible for flexion at the
metacarpophalangeal joint of the hand?
A. Flexor digitorum superficialis
B. Flexor pollicis longus
C. Flexor digitorum profundus
D. Extensor digitorum
Answer: A. Flexor digitorum superficialis
Rationale: The Flexor digitorum superficialis is the primary muscle involved in flexion at the
metacarpophalangeal joint of the fingers. It acts to bend the fingers at this joint.
2. What is the primary function of the hypothenar muscles of the hand?
A. Control fine motor movements of the fingers
B. Control opposition and flexion of the little finger
C. Provide wrist stability
D. Enable rotation of the forearm
Answer: B. Control opposition and flexion of the little finger
Rationale: The hypothenar muscles are responsible for the movement of the little finger,
particularly in flexion and opposition, crucial for gripping and manipulating objects.
3. Which of the following is true regarding the extensor tendons of the hand?
A. They facilitate flexion of the fingers
B. They allow for opposition of the thumb
C. They extend the fingers and wrist
D. They are responsible for flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joint
Answer: C. They extend the fingers and wrist
Rationale: The extensor tendons are responsible for extending the fingers and wrist. These
tendons enable the hand to straighten out from a flexed position.
4. Which bone is located in the palm of the hand and is involved in the formation
of the carpal tunnel?
A. Scaphoid
B. Pisiform
C. Hamate
D. Trapezium
Answer: B. Pisiform
Rationale: The pisiform is a small, pea-shaped bone in the wrist that forms part of the carpal
tunnel. This tunnel is crucial for the passage of the median nerve and flexor tendons.
5. The thenar eminence is formed by which group of muscles?
,A. Opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis
B. Abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi
C. Lumbricals and interossei
D. Flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus
Answer: A. Opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis
Rationale: The thenar eminence is the fleshy area at the base of the thumb, formed by these
three muscles. These muscles enable thumb movements such as opposition, flexion, and
abduction.
6. Which structure is involved in the biomechanical action of opposition in the
hand?
A. Extensor retinaculum
B. Flexor retinaculum
C. Flexor pollicis longus tendon
D. Thenar muscles
Answer: D. Thenar muscles
Rationale: Opposition, which is the movement of the thumb towards the fingers, is primarily
mediated by the thenar muscles, especially the opponens pollicis.
7. The carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of which nerve?
A. Radial nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Median nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Answer: C. Median nerve
Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal
tunnel, resulting in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
8. The interossei muscles in the hand are primarily responsible for:
A. Finger extension
B. Finger adduction and abduction
C. Wrist flexion
D. Thumb opposition
Answer: B. Finger adduction and abduction
Rationale: The dorsal interossei abduct the fingers, and the palmar interossei adduct them,
playing a key role in hand dexterity.
9. Which of the following ligaments supports the integrity of the
metacarpophalangeal joints?
A. Collateral ligaments
B. Annular ligaments
C. Cruciate ligaments
, D. Ulnar collateral ligaments
Answer: A. Collateral ligaments
Rationale: The collateral ligaments provide stability to the metacarpophalangeal joints and
prevent excessive lateral movement of the fingers during flexion and extension.
10. Which nerve is responsible for innervating the intrinsic muscles of the hand,
including the hypothenar and thenar muscles?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Answer: B. Median nerve
Rationale: The median nerve innervates the thenar muscles and the lateral two lumbricals, while
the ulnar nerve innervates the hypothenar muscles.
11. The primary function of the flexor retinaculum is:
A. Protect the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel
B. Facilitate finger extension
C. Prevent wrist hyperextension
D. Enable thumb opposition
Answer: A. Protect the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel
Rationale: The flexor retinaculum forms the roof of the carpal tunnel and protects the flexor
tendons and median nerve as they pass from the forearm into the hand.
12. What type of joint is the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb?
A. Hinge joint
B. Ball-and-socket joint
C. Saddle joint
D. Pivot joint
Answer: C. Saddle joint
Rationale: The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a saddle joint, allowing for a wide range of
motion such as flexion, extension, abduction, and opposition.
13. The extensor pollicis longus muscle functions primarily to:
A. Flex the thumb
B. Extend the thumb
C. Adduct the thumb
D. Oppose the thumb
Answer: B. Extend the thumb
Rationale: The extensor pollicis longus muscle is primarily responsible for extending the thumb,
especially at the interphalangeal joint.
5th Edition
Author :
Peter C. Neligan
,Chapter 1.1: Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Hand
1. Which of the following muscles is primarily responsible for flexion at the
metacarpophalangeal joint of the hand?
A. Flexor digitorum superficialis
B. Flexor pollicis longus
C. Flexor digitorum profundus
D. Extensor digitorum
Answer: A. Flexor digitorum superficialis
Rationale: The Flexor digitorum superficialis is the primary muscle involved in flexion at the
metacarpophalangeal joint of the fingers. It acts to bend the fingers at this joint.
2. What is the primary function of the hypothenar muscles of the hand?
A. Control fine motor movements of the fingers
B. Control opposition and flexion of the little finger
C. Provide wrist stability
D. Enable rotation of the forearm
Answer: B. Control opposition and flexion of the little finger
Rationale: The hypothenar muscles are responsible for the movement of the little finger,
particularly in flexion and opposition, crucial for gripping and manipulating objects.
3. Which of the following is true regarding the extensor tendons of the hand?
A. They facilitate flexion of the fingers
B. They allow for opposition of the thumb
C. They extend the fingers and wrist
D. They are responsible for flexion at the metacarpophalangeal joint
Answer: C. They extend the fingers and wrist
Rationale: The extensor tendons are responsible for extending the fingers and wrist. These
tendons enable the hand to straighten out from a flexed position.
4. Which bone is located in the palm of the hand and is involved in the formation
of the carpal tunnel?
A. Scaphoid
B. Pisiform
C. Hamate
D. Trapezium
Answer: B. Pisiform
Rationale: The pisiform is a small, pea-shaped bone in the wrist that forms part of the carpal
tunnel. This tunnel is crucial for the passage of the median nerve and flexor tendons.
5. The thenar eminence is formed by which group of muscles?
,A. Opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis
B. Abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi
C. Lumbricals and interossei
D. Flexor digitorum superficialis, flexor digitorum profundus
Answer: A. Opponens pollicis, flexor pollicis brevis, abductor pollicis brevis
Rationale: The thenar eminence is the fleshy area at the base of the thumb, formed by these
three muscles. These muscles enable thumb movements such as opposition, flexion, and
abduction.
6. Which structure is involved in the biomechanical action of opposition in the
hand?
A. Extensor retinaculum
B. Flexor retinaculum
C. Flexor pollicis longus tendon
D. Thenar muscles
Answer: D. Thenar muscles
Rationale: Opposition, which is the movement of the thumb towards the fingers, is primarily
mediated by the thenar muscles, especially the opponens pollicis.
7. The carpal tunnel syndrome results from compression of which nerve?
A. Radial nerve
B. Ulnar nerve
C. Median nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Answer: C. Median nerve
Rationale: Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed in the carpal
tunnel, resulting in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand.
8. The interossei muscles in the hand are primarily responsible for:
A. Finger extension
B. Finger adduction and abduction
C. Wrist flexion
D. Thumb opposition
Answer: B. Finger adduction and abduction
Rationale: The dorsal interossei abduct the fingers, and the palmar interossei adduct them,
playing a key role in hand dexterity.
9. Which of the following ligaments supports the integrity of the
metacarpophalangeal joints?
A. Collateral ligaments
B. Annular ligaments
C. Cruciate ligaments
, D. Ulnar collateral ligaments
Answer: A. Collateral ligaments
Rationale: The collateral ligaments provide stability to the metacarpophalangeal joints and
prevent excessive lateral movement of the fingers during flexion and extension.
10. Which nerve is responsible for innervating the intrinsic muscles of the hand,
including the hypothenar and thenar muscles?
A. Ulnar nerve
B. Median nerve
C. Radial nerve
D. Axillary nerve
Answer: B. Median nerve
Rationale: The median nerve innervates the thenar muscles and the lateral two lumbricals, while
the ulnar nerve innervates the hypothenar muscles.
11. The primary function of the flexor retinaculum is:
A. Protect the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel
B. Facilitate finger extension
C. Prevent wrist hyperextension
D. Enable thumb opposition
Answer: A. Protect the tendons passing through the carpal tunnel
Rationale: The flexor retinaculum forms the roof of the carpal tunnel and protects the flexor
tendons and median nerve as they pass from the forearm into the hand.
12. What type of joint is the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb?
A. Hinge joint
B. Ball-and-socket joint
C. Saddle joint
D. Pivot joint
Answer: C. Saddle joint
Rationale: The carpometacarpal joint of the thumb is a saddle joint, allowing for a wide range of
motion such as flexion, extension, abduction, and opposition.
13. The extensor pollicis longus muscle functions primarily to:
A. Flex the thumb
B. Extend the thumb
C. Adduct the thumb
D. Oppose the thumb
Answer: B. Extend the thumb
Rationale: The extensor pollicis longus muscle is primarily responsible for extending the thumb,
especially at the interphalangeal joint.
