Human Anatomy and Physiology : Injuries and Disorders

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Injuries And Disorders

During the swing phase of walking, which of the following nerves provides motor innervation for the muscles normally responsible for clearing the toes off the ground?

Possible Answers:

Tibial

None of these

Femoral

Superficial fibular

Deep fibular

Correct answer:

Deep fibular

Explanation:

The deep fibular (also called peronal) nerve traverses the posterior side of the lower leg. The deep fibular nerve supplies tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, peroneus tertius, and extensor hallucis longus. After the ankle joint, a branch of the deep fibular nerve innervates digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis. 

Damage to the deep fibular nerve (often via traumatic injury to the lateral knee) results in a foot drop. Foot drop inhibits the patient to clear toes off the ground during the swing stage of walking. 

Example Question #92 : Injuries And Disorders

A 67-year-old female presents with pain and points to C3-C4 region. Radiographs show marked narrowing of the left C3-C4 intervertebral foramen; the adjacent intervertebral foramina appear normal. 

This is likely to be matched to signs of nerve impingement affecting which nerve in the cervical region?

Possible Answers:

C5

C4

C2

C3

Correct answer:

C4

Explanation:

Damage to nerve roots can cause weakness, paralysis, pain, and numbness to muscles and areas innervated by the affected nerve root. When nerves of the cervical region are involved, pain is usually the first symptom to develop. Pain typically will increase gradually before other symptoms of ridiculopathy present. Due to the way nerve roots exit the vertebrae, in the cervical region the nerve root affected usually correlates to the lower vertebrae. In this case there is a narrowing of the C3/C4 space and thus the C4 nerve is affected. 

Example Question #93 : Injuries And Disorders

Which spinal nerve is most likely to be irritated by posterolateral herniation of the intervertebral disc between L5 and the sacrum?

Possible Answers:

L3

L4

S1

S2

Correct answer:

S1

Explanation:

The S1 nerve is most likely to be irritated by a posteriolateral herniation of the intervertebral disc between L5 and the sacrum. To best understand this, recall that in the lumbar spine the spinal nerve exits below the associated vertebrae. Disc herniation occurs when the anulus fibrosus tears (often due to age related degeneration, lifting injuries, or trauma) and the soft nucleus pulposus is displaced and puts pressure of the nerve. Additionally the tear in the anulus fibrosus can cause the release of inflammatory mediators which will also irritate the nerve. 

 

Example Question #94 : Injuries And Disorders

A 55-year-old male presents with pain in his lower back. Lumbar radiographs show marked narrowing of the left L2-L3 intervertebral foramen; the adjacent intervertebral foramina appear normal.  

This is likely to be matched to signs of nerve impingement affecting which nerve in the lumbar region?

Possible Answers:

L2

L4

L3

S1

Correct answer:

L2

Explanation:

Damage to nerve roots can cause weakness, paralysis, pain, and numbness to muscles and areas innervated by the affected nerve root. When nerves of the lumbar region are involved, lower back pain is usually the first symptom to develop. Pain typically will increase gradually before other symptoms of radiculopathy present. Due to the way nerve roots exit the vertebrae, in the lumbar region the nerve root affected usually correlates to the upper vertebrae. In this case there is a narrowing of the L2/L3 space and thus the L2 nerve is affected. 

Example Question #95 : Injuries And Disorders

Patient comes into the office with a traumatic brain injury. After doing an initial evaluation, lab values state that the serum osmolarity is low and the urine osmolarity is high. Which of the following hormones is responsible for this? 

Possible Answers:

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Prolactin

Aldosterone

Dopamine

Correct answer:

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Explanation:

Any injury to the brain can cause a release of any number of hormones into the body. Thus proper evaluation should be conducted immediately for the hormone most likely with the patients presentation. ADH is responsible for this patients abnormalities. ADH causes an increase in water re-absorption which decreases serum osmolarity and consequently, increases urine osmolarity. 

Example Question #96 : Injuries And Disorders

Bell's palsy may be caused by damage to which cranial nerve?

Possible Answers:

CN III

CN VII

CN VI

CN V2

CN V3

Correct answer:

CN VII

Explanation:

CN VII, or facial nerve, innervates the muscles responsible for facial expression. Bell's palsy is a disease that causes one side of the face to droop because the muscles are paralyzed. It can be idiopathic, associated with herpes simplex/lyme disease, or a result of CN VII being divided.

Example Question #1 : Help With Bone Injuries And Disorders

What symptom is normally seen with the sacralization of L5 vertebra and why?

Possible Answers:

Increase of mobility because the lumbar vertebrae are normally associated with high mobility

Loss of mobility because the sacrum is associated with high mobility

Increase of mobility because the sacrum is associated with low mobility 

Sacralization of the L5 vertebra will not affect mobility because it is the most caudal lumbar vertebra

Loss of mobility because the lumbar vertebrae are normally associated with high mobility

Correct answer:

Loss of mobility because the lumbar vertebrae are normally associated with high mobility

Explanation:

The lumbar region of the vertebrae is known for its high mobility and ability to support body weight. If it receives inappropriate signals during development and fuses with the sacrum, it will result in a loss of mobility in the individual. 

Example Question #2 : Help With Bone Injuries And Disorders

What carpal bone articulates with the radius and is the most commonly fractured bone in the wrist? 

Possible Answers:

Pisiform

Trapezium

Hamate

Scaphoid

Correct answer:

Scaphoid

Explanation:

The scaphoid, which articulates with the distal radius, is a very common fractured bone. It is located at the base of the thumb.

Example Question #3 : Help With Bone Injuries And Disorders

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease involves avascular necrosis of which bone?

Possible Answers:

Mandible

Humerus

Scaphoid

Femur

Talus

Correct answer:

Femur

Explanation:

While the other bones listed are common sites of avascular necrosis, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease specifically refers to avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Example Question #2 : Help With Bone Injuries And Disorders

Which motion at the ankle, when take to the extreme, is likely to result in an avulsion fracture of the medial malleolus?

Possible Answers:

Eversion

Extension

Dorsiflexion

Plantarflexion

Inversion

Correct answer:

Eversion

Explanation:

End range ankle eversion tenses the deltoid ligament (medial collateral ligament of the ankle). However, at the extremes of ankle eversion, the high tensile strength of the deltoid ligament can cause the medial malleolus to avulse from the tibia. During inversion, this ligament is not tense.

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