Human Anatomy and Physiology : Injuries and Disorders

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1417 : Human Anatomy And Physiology

At what level does one perform a lumbar puncture?

Possible Answers:

L1/L2 or L2/L3

Only L1/L2

L4/L5 or L3/L4

Only L3/L4

Correct answer:

L4/L5 or L3/L4

Explanation:

In human adults the spinal cord (caudal tip) usually ends at the level of L1/L2. Thus lumbar punctures are performed between the L3 and L4 vertebrae or between L4 and L5, so there is no risk of damage to the spinal cord. 

Example Question #41 : Injuries And Disorders

You suspect that a patient may have an injury to her dorsal scapular nerve. What abnormal movement pattern would make you suspect this?

Possible Answers:

Excess scapular upward rotation

Excess scapular internal rotation ("winging")

Excess scapular elevation

Excess scapular downward rotation

Correct answer:

Excess scapular upward rotation

Explanation:

Although electrodiagnostic testing would be needed to definitively diagnose a dorsal scapular nerve pathology, excess scapular upward rotation could suggest dysfunction of this nerve. Because the dorsal scapular nerve innervates the rhomboid major and minor, which are downward scapular rotators (as well as scapular elevators, and adductors) injury to this nerve would decrease eccentric control of upward rotation, causing excessive movement in that direction. Excess scapular internal rotation is associated with injury to the long thoracic nerve, not the dorsal scapular nerve.

Example Question #41 : Injuries And Disorders

An 8-year old boy has difficulty walking, and you notice that although he has really thin thighs, his calves appear to be very well developed. When you ask him to stand up and walk for you, you notice that he leans forward and pushes on his thighs to stand. A mutation affecting which protein causes this condition?

Possible Answers:

Troponin

Frataxin

Actin

Dystrophin

Huntingtin

Correct answer:

Dystrophin

Explanation:

The boy is suffering from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). This condition is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation resulting in absence of the dystrophin protein.

DMD is an X-linked recessive disease that caused muscle wasting and death. Mutations in the dystrophin gene on the X-chromosome cause absence of the protein dystrophin and instability in muscle cell membranes. Proximal muscles are affected first with noticeable atrophy of the legs and pelvis. This spreads to the arms, neck, and other parts of the body. Patients have pseudohypertrophy of the calves and deltoids and have poor endurance. Patients often show Gower’s sign, pushing on their thighs with their arms to help them stand up. A diagnosis is made with DNA testing or muscle biopsy showing absence of dystrophin. Becker’s muscular dystrophy is a less severe form of DMD in which mutated dystrophin is produced. Signs and symptoms are similar, but less severe.

Frataxin is a mitochondrial protein that is deficient in patients with Freidrich's ataxia, an autosomal recessive trinucleotide repeat disorder. It is the most common hereditary ataxia involving the posterior column, lateral corticospinal tracts, and spinocerebellar tracts of the spinal cord. This is a result of progressive atrophy and sclerosis of the dorsal root ganglia and dorsal roots. This condition is characterized by staggering gait, frequent falling, nystagmus, pes cavus, kyphoscoliosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Actin is a protein found in eukaryotes with multiple functions, including muscle contraction, vesicle and organelle transport, and cell signaling.

Troponin is a regulatory protein in muscle contraction. In skeletal muscle, troponin is bound to tropomyosin, a protein that covers actin binding sites, prohibiting muscle contraction. Binding of calcium to troponin causes a conformational change in troponin, which shifts tropomyosin to expose actin binding sites.

Huntingtin is a protein that, when mutated, causes Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder that progressively damages brain cells to result in chorea (jerky, uncontrollable movements) as well as changes in personality and dementia.

Example Question #42 : Injuries And Disorders

Your dad comes home from the doctor's office with a diagnosis of "golfer's elbow." Which of the following structures is involved in this injury?

Possible Answers:

Medial epicondyle

Median nerve

Biceps brachii muscle

Lateral epicondyle

Annular ligament

Correct answer:

Medial epicondyle

Explanation:

Golfer's elbow, or medial epicondylitis, is due to inflammation of the medial epicondyle of the elbow. The tendons of several muscles involved in flexing the forearm, wrist, and fingers originate at the medial epicondyle of the humerus at the elbow and this insertion point can become inflamed in response to injury.

Lateral epicondylitis is sometimes associated with tennis elbow.

Example Question #44 : Injuries And Disorders

Which of the following best accounts for the symptoms described?

Radiating pain down back, weakness of function, numbness or tingling

Possible Answers:

Herniated disk

Lumbar lordosis

Scoliosis

Annulal tear

Lumbar kyphosis

Correct answer:

Herniated disk

Explanation:

When the nucleus propulsus inside an intervertebral disk protrudes through a weakened area of the annulus fibrosus, the ability of that disk to respond to torsion forces is severely compromised. Further, the protruding nucleus itself puts pressure on the vertebrae, resulting in a "compressed" or herniated disk. This can impact nearby nerves, resulting in radiating pain, weakness, and numbness or tingling.

Example Question #45 : Injuries And Disorders

Injury to the outer thigh could result in which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Injury to the obturator nerve (L2-L4)

Injury to the lateral cutaneous nerve (L2-L3)

Injury to the femoral nerve (L2-L4)

Injury to the femoral nerve (L2-L3)

Injury to the lateral cutaneous nerve (L1)

Correct answer:

Injury to the lateral cutaneous nerve (L2-L3)

Explanation:

Injury to the lateral thigh area could result in injury to the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh, which is associated with L2-L3.

L1 is associated with the ilio-inguinal nerve, located in the genital region. Both the obturator and femoral nerves are associated with L2-L4. 

Example Question #5 : Musculoskeletal System

What upper extremity ligament is implicated in a person with "nursemaid's elbow"?

Possible Answers:

Medial collateral ligament of the elbow

Lateral collateral ligament of the elbow

Sternoclavicular ligament

Annular ligament of the radius

Coracoclavicular ligament

Correct answer:

Annular ligament of the radius

Explanation:

The annular ligament of the radius stabilizes the radial head against the capitellum of the humerus. If this ligament is lax or damaged, the head of the radius can dislocate, leading to "nursemaid's elbow". This injury is most common in young children. The sternoclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments do not articulate with the elbow, rather they are superior to the elbow, at the shoulder. The collateral ligaments of the elbow stabilize the joint but are not subject to the subluxation indicated in nursemaid's elbow.

Example Question #44 : Injuries And Disorders

Which muscle holds the scapula tight to the posterior wall of the chest and when damaged, sometimes results in a "winged" scapula?

Possible Answers:

Deltoid

Serratus anterior

Trapezius

Teres major

Levator scapulae

Correct answer:

Serratus anterior

Explanation:

The serratus anterior holds the scapula tight to the posterior wall of the chest. Damage to it, and especially to the thoracic nerve (descending from the axilla) causes this muscle to become paralyzed. Because of this, the scapula can project posteriorly from the back when actions such as pushing against a wall are performed.

 

Example Question #4 : Help With Muscle, Ligament, And Tendon Injuries And Disorders

 Injury to the obturator nerve leads to __________.

Possible Answers:

both impaired thigh abduction and loss of sensation of the medial thigh

impaired thigh adduction

impaired thigh abduction

both impaired thigh adduction and loss of sensation of the medial aspect of the thigh 

loss of sensation of the medial thigh

Correct answer:

both impaired thigh adduction and loss of sensation of the medial aspect of the thigh 

Explanation:

The obturator nerve can be  damaged in car accidents, abdominal surgeries. It descends thru the pelvis to innervate the medial side of the thigh and adductor muscles of the thigh (external obturator, adductors longus, brevis, magnus and gracilis muscles). Adduction is movement of  an extremity closer to the midline of the body. Abduction is the reverse of adduction.

Example Question #8 : Musculoskeletal System

Which of the following is true about indirect inguinal hernias? 

Possible Answers:

They occur medial to the inferior epigastric vessels

They are more common in females than in males

They can lead to a loop of gut being pushed into the scrotum

They exploit a weakness in the rectus sheath

Correct answer:

They can lead to a loop of gut being pushed into the scrotum

Explanation:

An indirect inguinal hernia is a congenital processes, where the bowel and peritoneum move through a patent processus vaginalis into the scrotum. In an indirect inguinal hernia the protrusion passes through the inguinal ring lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels. Males are significantly more likely than females to develop indirect inguinal hernias.

Direct inguinal hernias are loops of gut that enter through a weak point in the abdominal wall fascia. In direct inguinal hernias the defect is medial to the inferior epigastric vessels. Males are also significantly more likely to develop direct inguinal hernias. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors