Human Anatomy and Physiology : Gross Anatomy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Human Anatomy and Physiology

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Example Questions

Example Question #8 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

Which nerve is the most important sensory nerve in the hand?

Possible Answers:

Superficial branch of the ulnar nerve

Digital branches of the median nerve

Radial nerve

Deep branch of the ulnar nerve

Correct answer:

Digital branches of the median nerve

Explanation:

The palmar digital branches of the median nerve are responsible for cutaneous innervation of the palmar side of the thumb, index finger, middle finger and half of the ring finger.

The superficial branch of the ulnar nerve innervates the palmaris brevis, while the deep branch of the ulnar nerve innervates the third and fourth lumbricals. The radial nerve innervates several structures including the biceps and triceps brachii.

Example Question #9 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

Which of the following muscle-nerve combinations is incorrect?

Possible Answers:

The dorsal interossei is innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve

The opponens pollicis is innervated by the recurrent branch of the median nerve

The palmaris brevis is innervated by the superficial branch of the ulnar nerve

The medial lumbrical is innervated by the digital branch of the median nerve

Correct answer:

The medial lumbrical is innervated by the digital branch of the median nerve

Explanation:

The two medial lumbricals are innervated by the deep branch of the ulnar nerve. The lateral two lumbricals are innervated by the digital branches of the median nerve.

The other answer choices show correct muscle-nerve pairings.

Example Question #10 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

A 16-year old girl spent the weekend skiing in Vermont and now complains of weakness, as well as numbness and tingling, in her right leg and foot. She recalls falling a few times, but nothing out of the ordinary, and mentions that her ski boots seemed a little tight. Where do you expect her numbness and tingling to be?

Possible Answers:

Plantar surface of foot

Dorsum of foot

Lateral aspect of foot

Medial aspect of leg

First dorsal web space of foot

Correct answer:

Dorsum of foot

Explanation:

The skier likely compressed her superficial peroneal nerve which innervates the dorsum of the foot.

The superficial peroneal nerve wraps around the neck of the fibula and is a common site of compression when people cross their legs or wear high boots.

The plantar surface of the foot is innervated by the tibial nerve, which courses through the posterior leg. The lateral aspect of the foot is innervated by the sural nerve, which arises from the tibial nerve. The first dorsal web space of the foot is innervated by the deep peroneal nerve, which arises from the common peroneal nerve and runs in the anterior leg. The medial aspect of the leg is supplied by the saphenous nerve, which arises from the femoral nerve.

Example Question #11 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

During an anterior approach to hip replacement, a resident accidentally ligates the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Where would you expect the patient to have sensory deficits upon waking?

Possible Answers:

Anterior leg

Plantar surface of foot

Medial leg

Lateral thigh

Groin area

Correct answer:

Lateral thigh

Explanation:

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies the lateral thigh and is highly visible during the anterior approach to the hip as it lies between the sartorius and the tensor fasciae latae. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is part of the lumbar plexus and arises from spinal root L2.

The medial leg is supplied by the saphenous nerve, which arises from the femoral nerve. The groin area is supplied by the ilioinguinal nerve, arising from L1. The anterior leg is innervated by the common peroneal and superficial peroneal nerves, arising from the sciatic nerve. The plantar surface of the foot is innervated by the tibial nerve, which courses through the posterior leg and also arises from the sciatic nerve.

Example Question #581 : Gross Anatomy

Which of the following is not a branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)?

Possible Answers:

Mandibular

Maxillary

Buccal

Cervical

Zygomatic

Correct answer:

Maxillary

Explanation:

Maxillary is a branch of the trigeminal nerve (V), and not of the facial nerve (VII).

The branches of the facial nerve, from superior to inferior, are: temporal, zygomatic, buccal, mandibular, and cervical.

Example Question #13 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

Damage to which of the following nerves would diminish the function of the latissimus dorsi muscle and decrease the ability of the body to do pull-ups?

Possible Answers:

Accessory nerve

Dorsal scapular nerve

Intercostal nerves

Thoracodorsal nerve

Correct answer:

Thoracodorsal nerve

Explanation:

The latissimus dorsi muscle is innervated by the thoracodorsal nerve and functions to extend, adduct, and medially rotate the humerus. Damage to the thoracodorsal nerve would result in diminished capacity to pull the body up, such as during climbing or doing pull-ups.

The dorsal scapular nerve innervates the rhomboid and levator scapulae muscles. The accessory nerve innervates the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius. The intercostal nerves innervate the thoracic cavity and some upper extremity regions.

Example Question #14 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

Which nerve innervates the pectoralis major muscle?

Possible Answers:

Long thoracic nerve

Superior and inferior pectoral nerves

Medial and lateral pectoral nerves

Medial pectoral nerve only

Correct answer:

Medial and lateral pectoral nerves

Explanation:

The pectoralis major is innervated by both the medial and lateral pectoral nerves. In contrast, the pectoralis minor is only innervated by the medial pectoral nerve. 

The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle. The superior and inferior pectoral nerves are false answer choices and do not refer to anatomical structures.

Example Question #15 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

The biceps brachii muscle is innervated by which nerve?

Possible Answers:

Axillary nerve

Median nerve

Radial nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

Correct answer:

Musculocutaneous nerve

Explanation:

The biceps brachii is innervated by the musculocutaneous nerve. The muscle is located anterior to the humerus and functions as a primary flexor of the forearm at the elbow.

The median nerve innervates muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm, the muscles of the thenar eminence in the hand, and the first and second lumbricals of the hand. The median nerve runs through the carpal tunnel and, when compressed, is responsible for the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The radial nerve innervates the muscles of the posterior compartment of the arm and forearm. The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid, teres minor, and triceps brachii.

Example Question #16 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels

You are sitting in the doctor's office and the nurse comes in to measure your blood pressure. She places the blood pressure cuff around your right arm below the shoulder, but above the elbow. Which artery is being compressed when she inflates the cuff?

Possible Answers:

Brachial artery

Radial artery

Ulnar artery

Axillary artery

Correct answer:

Brachial artery

Explanation:

The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the upper arm, derived from the axillary artery after it passes the glenohumeral joint. After passing the elbow joint, the brachial artery bisects into the radial and ulnar arteries, which supply blood to the forearm. Inflating the blood pressure cuff around the upper arm compresses the brachial artery.

Example Question #582 : Gross Anatomy

Which nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the arm and forearm?

Possible Answers:

Radial nerve

Musculocutaneous nerve

Median nerve

Axillary nerve

Correct answer:

Radial nerve

Explanation:

The radial nerve innervates the muscles in the posterior compartment of the arm and the posterior compartment of the forearm, responsible for extension of the arm and forearm. These include the medial and lateral heads of the triceps brachii, brachioradialis, supinator, and the extensor muscles of the forearm (extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris, extensor digitorum, and others).

The musculocutaneous nerve supplies the anterior compartment of the forearm, innervating the coracobrachialis, the biceps brachii, and the brachialis muscles. The median nerve innervates muscles of the anterior compartment of the forearm, the muscles of the thenar eminence in the hand, and the first and second lumbricals of the hand. The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid, teres minor, and triceps brachii muscles.

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