All Human Anatomy and Physiology Resources
Example Questions
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?
Anterior leg
Plantar surface of foot
Medial leg
Lateral thigh
Groin area
Lateral thigh
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 #12 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels
Which of the following is not a branch of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII)?
Cervical
Buccal
Maxillary
Mandibular
Zygomatic
Maxillary
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?
Accessory nerve
Dorsal scapular nerve
Intercostal nerves
Thoracodorsal nerve
Thoracodorsal nerve
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?
Long thoracic nerve
Superior and inferior pectoral nerves
Medial and lateral pectoral nerves
Medial pectoral nerve only
Medial and lateral pectoral nerves
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?
Axillary nerve
Median nerve
Radial nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve
Musculocutaneous nerve
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?
Brachial artery
Radial artery
Ulnar artery
Axillary artery
Brachial artery
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 #17 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels
Which nerve innervates the extensor muscles of the arm and forearm?
Musculocutaneous nerve
Radial nerve
Median nerve
Axillary nerve
Radial nerve
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.
Example Question #18 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels
A 79-year old nursing home resident complains that food has been tasting funny the past few months. She has also mentioned that she used to love smelling all the flowers in the garden, but does not enjoy it as much anymore because “they don’t smell good like they used to.” You suspect that with age some of her nerve fibers may be deteriorating. What type of nerve fibers are involved in this patient?
General visceral afferent
Special somatic afferent
Special visceral afferent
General somatic afferent
General somatic efferent
Special visceral afferent
This question tests knowledge of different nerve fiber types. Smell and taste is transmitted by special visceral afferent nerve fibers.
Special somatic afferent fibers carry information of sight, sound, and balance. General somatic afferent fibers are sensory fibers transmitting information from the body to the spinal cord, such as pain and touch. General somatic efferent fibers are motor fibers transmitting impulses from the spinal cord to skeletal (voluntary) muscles. General visceral afferent fibers carry sensation reflex or pain sensation from mucous membranes, glands, and blood vessels, while general visceral efferent fibers transmit signals from the spinal cord to smooth (involuntary) muscle and glandular tissue.
Example Question #19 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels
Peptic ulcer disease is most commonly found in the duodenum and can occasionally penetrate through the duodenal wall and erode other structures. What vessel is most likely to be injured if an ulcer in the superior part of the duodenum were to perforate through?
Left gastric artery
Gastroduodenal artery
Right gastroepiploic artery
Splenic artery
Common hepatic artery
Gastroduodenal artery
Perforation of a duodenal ulcer would erode the gastroduodenal artery.
The gastroduodenal artery branches off the common hepatic artery and runs posterior to the superior and descending parts of the duodenum. If a duodenal ulcer were to perforate, the gastroduodenal artery is the most likely to be affected.
The common hepatic artery is a main branch off the celiac trunk, but is found superior to the duodenum. The left gastric artery is another branch off the celiac trunk that is left of the duodenum, supplying the lesser curvature of the stomach. The splenic artery is the third branch off the celiac trunk and runs posterior to the stomach. The right gastroepiploic artery is a branch of the gastroduodenal artery that runs inferior to the stomach, supplying the greater curvature of the stomach.
Example Question #20 : Identifying Nerves And Blood Vessels
Damage to which nerve results in "winging" of the scapula?
Axillary nerve
Long thoracic nerve
Thoracodorsal nerve
Subscapular nerve
Median nerve
Long thoracic nerve
The long thoracic nerve innervates the serratus anterior muscle, which keeps the medial border and inferior angle of the scapula pressed against the thoracic wall. The long thoracic nerve is located very superficially and is often damaged during surgery. Damage to the long thoracic nerve causes the medial border and inferior angle of the scapula to elevate away from the thoracic wall, resulting in "winging" of the scapula. When this occurs, normal elevation of the arm is not possible.
The thoracodorsal nerve innervates the latissimus dorsi. Damage to the thoracodorsal nerve results in diminished capacity to use the arms to pull the body forward or upward, such as the motion of doing pull-ups. The superior and inferior subscapular nerves innervate the subscapularis muscle, a rotator cuff muscle used to stabilize the glenohumeral joint (shoulder). The median nerve innervates the flexors of the forearm and some parts of the hand. The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid, teres minor, and triceps brachii. Damage to the axillary nerve results in inability to abduct the arm greater than fifteen degrees.