UPPER LIMB ANATOMY - COMPLETE QUESTION BANK

LONG ESSAYS (LAQ) - 10 Marks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

1. Describe the Brachial Plexus under: roots, trunks, divisions, cords, branches, and applied anatomy.
2. Describe the Axillary Artery under: origin, course, branches, and applied anatomy. Also add a note on axillary anastomosis.
3. Describe the Shoulder Joint under: type, articular surfaces, ligaments, relations, blood supply, nerve supply, movements, and clinical anatomy.
4. Describe the Elbow Joint under: type, ligaments, movements, blood supply, nerve supply, and applied anatomy.
5. Describe the Axilla under: boundaries, walls, contents, and applied anatomy.
6. Describe the Median Nerve - formation, course, innervations, and clinical anatomy.
7. Describe the Radial Nerve - formation, course, innervations, branches, and clinical anatomy.
8. Describe the Ulnar Nerve - formation, course, branches, and applied aspects.
9. Describe the Mammary Gland under: extent and situation, deep relations, structure, lymphatic drainage, vascular supply, development, and applied aspects.
10. Mention the arterial pulses which can be felt in the upper extremity. Mention the origin, course, relations, and branches of the Radial Artery.
11. Brachial Artery - origin, course, branches, and applied aspects.
12. Wrist drop (applied anatomy) / Anatomical basis of wrist drop.

SHORT ESSAYS (SAQ) - 5 Marks ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Nerves

1. Median nerve
2. Ulnar nerve
3. Radial nerve
4. Musculocutaneous nerve ⭐⭐⭐
5. Axillary nerve ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Joints & Regions

1. Cubital fossa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Anatomical snuff box ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Carpal tunnel / Carpal tunnel syndrome ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Elbow joint ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Proximal and distal radioulnar joint ⭐⭐⭐
6. 1st carpometacarpal joint (thumb) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Supination and pronation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / Pronation and supination

Muscles

1. Rotator cuff muscles ⭐⭐⭐
2. Flexor retinaculum ⭐⭐⭐
3. Lumbricals ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Muscles - Biceps, Deltoid, Coracobrachialis, Supinator, Triceps, Brachioradialis, Pronator teres (origin, insertion, nerve supply, action, applied aspects) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Fascia & Spaces

1. Clavipectoral fascia ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Palmar aponeurosis ⭐
3. Spaces of hand: A) Pulp spaces (whitlow), B) Thenar and hypothenar spaces, C) Forearm space of Parona ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Intermuscular spaces and contents passing through them ⭐⭐⭐

Vasculature

1. Scapular anastomosis ⭐ / Anastomosis around elbow joint ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Superficial palmar arch ⭐⭐⭐
3. Deep palmar arch ⭐⭐⭐
4. Cephalic vein
5. Basilic vein
6. Median cubital vein, cephalic vein, and basilic vein ⭐⭐⭐
7. Axillary lymph nodes ⭐⭐⭐

Bone & Attachments

1. Peculiarities of clavicle ⭐⭐⭐
2. Attachments related to coracoid process ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Nerves related to humerus ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Greater tubercle of humerus - muscle attachments and nerve supply
5. Triangle of auscultation ⭐

Applied / Clinical

1. Winging of scapula (serratus anterior) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Anatomical basis of claw hand ⭐⭐⭐

SHORT ANSWERS (VSAQ) - 2-3 Marks ⭐⭐⭐

1. Erb's palsy
2. Klumpke's palsy
3. Winging of scapula
4. Colles fracture ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Scaphoid fracture ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Deltoid muscle
7. Thenar muscles
8. Hypothenar muscles
9. Flexor retinaculum
10. Extensor retinaculum
11. Anatomical basis of wrist drop
12. Fracture shaft of humerus and radial nerve
13. Muscles attached to greater tubercle
14. Write about ulnar artery ⭐

MOST REPEATED QUESTIONS (Last 5 Years)

HIGH-YIELD EXAM STRATEGY

Must Read Before Exam

• Brachial plexus - Axillary artery - Shoulder joint - Elbow joint - Axilla
• Median nerve - Ulnar nerve - Radial nerve - Cubital fossa - Anatomical snuff box

Viva Favorites

• Erb's palsy - Klumpke's palsy - Winging of scapula - Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Rotator cuff muscles - Scaphoid fracture - Colles fracture

One-Day Revision Order

1. Brachial Plexus 2. Axillary Artery 3. Axilla 4. Shoulder Joint 5. Elbow Joint 6. Median Nerve 7. Ulnar Nerve 8. Radial Nerve 9. Cubital Fossa 10. Anatomical Snuff Box 11. Carpal Tunnel 12. Applied Anatomy (Erb's palsy, Klumpke's palsy, fractures)

Top 10 You Cannot Afford to Miss

1. Brachial Plexus | 2. Axillary Artery | 3. Shoulder Joint | 4. Elbow Joint | 5. Axilla | 6. Median Nerve | 7. Ulnar Nerve | 8. Radial Nerve | 9. Cubital Fossa | 10. Anatomical Snuff Box

UPPER LIMB ANATOMY - QUESTIONS ARRANGED BY CHAPTER

CH. 2 - Features of Individual Bones (Upper Limb)

• Identify and describe important features of individual bones of the upper limb; place them in anatomical position

• Peculiarities of clavicle (AN 8.3)
• Bones of articulated hand - parts of metacarpals, phalanges, and peculiarities of pisiform (AN 8.5)
• Muscle attachments on individual bones of the upper limb (AN 8.4)

• Scaphoid fracture and anatomical basis of avascular necrosis (AN 8.6)

CH. 3 - Pectoral Region

• Describe the Mammary Gland under: location, extent, deep relations, structure, age changes, blood supply, lymphatic drainage, microanatomy, and applied anatomy (AN 9.2)
• Development of breast (AN 9.3)

• Pectoralis major and pectoralis minor - attachments, nerve supply, and action (AN 9.1)
• Serratus anterior - attachments and action / Winging of scapula (AN 10.11)

CH. 4 - Axilla, Shoulder and Scapular Region

• Describe the Axilla - boundaries, walls, and contents (AN 10.1)
• Describe the Axillary Artery - origin, extent, course, parts, relations, branches and tributaries of axillary vein (AN 10.2)
• Describe the Brachial Plexus - formation, branches, relations, area of supply, course and relations of terminal branches (AN 10.3)
• Variations in formation of brachial plexus (AN 10.5)

• Axillary lymph nodes - anatomical groups and areas of drainage (AN 10.4)
• Erb's palsy and Klumpke's paralysis - clinical features and anatomical basis (AN 10.6)
• Enlarged axillary lymph nodes - anatomical basis (AN 10.7)

CH. 5 - Scapular Region & Back of Shoulder

• Describe the deltoid and rotator cuff muscles (AN 10.10)
• Trapezius and latissimus dorsi - position, attachment, nerve supply, and actions (AN 10.8)

• Scapular anastomosis and triangle of auscultation (AN 10.9)
• Anatomical basis of injury to axillary nerve during intramuscular injections (AN 10.13)

CH. 6 - Shoulder Joint

• Describe the Shoulder Joint - type, articular surfaces, capsule, synovial membrane, ligaments, relations, movements, muscles involved, blood supply, nerve supply, and applied anatomy (AN 10.12)

• Sternoclavicular joint, acromioclavicular joint, carpometacarpal joints, and metacarpophalangeal joint (AN 13.4)

CH. 7 - Fascia and Veins of Upper Limb

• Fascia of upper limb and compartments; veins of upper limb and lymphatic drainage (AN 13.1)
• Cephalic vein
• Basilic vein
• Superficial palmar arch
• Deep palmar arch

• Dermatomes of upper limb (AN 13.2)

CH. 8 - Arm and Cubital Fossa

• Muscle groups of upper arm with emphasis on biceps and triceps brachii - origin, insertion, nerve supply, action (AN 11.1)
• Origin, course, relations, branches, termination of important nerves and vessels in arm (AN 11.2)

• Cubital fossa - boundaries and contents (AN 11.5)
• Anastomosis around the elbow joint (AN 11.6)
• Anatomical basis of venepuncture of cubital veins / Median cubital vein (AN 11.3)
• Brachial artery and its applied aspects

CH. 9 - Forearm (Ventral and Dorsal)

• Important muscle groups of ventral forearm - attachments, nerve supply, and actions (AN 12.1)
• Origin, course, relations, branches, termination of important nerves and vessels of forearm (AN 12.2)
• Important muscle groups of dorsal forearm - attachments, nerve supply, and actions (AN 12.11)
• Radial artery - origin, course, relations, and branches

• Pronation and supination (AN 12.14)
• Compartments deep to extensor retinaculum (AN 12.14)
• Important nerves and vessels of back of forearm (AN 12.12)

CH. 10 - Elbow Joint & Radio-Ulnar Joints

• Elbow Joint - type, articular surfaces, capsule, synovial membrane, ligaments, relations, movements, blood and nerve supply (AN 13.3)
• Proximal and distal radioulnar joints (AN 13.3)

CH. 11 - Hand (Palm, Flexor Retinaculum, Small Muscles)

• Flexor retinaculum with its attachments (AN 12.3)
• Small muscles of hand (AN 12.5)
• Course and branches of important blood vessels and nerves in hand (AN 12.7)
• Fibrous flexor sheaths, ulnar bursa, radial bursa, and digital synovial sheaths (AN 12.9)

• Carpal tunnel syndrome - anatomical basis (AN 12.4)
• Lumbricals (AN 12.5)
• Palmar aponeurosis (AN 12.10 / N)
• Spaces of hand - pulp spaces (whitlow), thenar/hypothenar spaces, space of Parona (AN 12.10)
• Extensor expansion / extensor expansion formation (AN 12.15)
• Superficial and deep palmar arches

CH. 12 - Wrist Joint & 1st Carpometacarpal Joint

• Wrist joint - type, articular surfaces, capsule, ligaments, relations, movements, blood and nerve supply (AN 13.3)
• 1st carpometacarpal joint (thumb) (AN 13.3)
• Movements of thumb and muscles involved (AN 12.6)

CH. 13 - Applied Anatomy (Nerve Injuries & Clinical)

• Anatomical basis of wrist drop / Saturday night paralysis (AN 11.4, AN 12.13)
• Anatomical basis of claw hand (AN 12.8)

• Erb's palsy
• Klumpke's palsy
• Fracture shaft of humerus and radial nerve
• Anatomical basis of wrist drop
• Muscles attached to greater tubercle
• Winging of scapula
• Colles fracture
• Scaphoid fracture

RADIOGRAPHS & SURFACE MARKING (CH. 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 12)

• Identify bones and joints in AP and lateral radiographs of shoulder, arm, elbow, forearm, and hand (AN 13.5)
• Important bony landmarks: jugular notch, sternal angle, acromial angle, spine of scapula, vertebral level of medial end, inferior angle of scapula (AN 13.6)

Star ratings reflect TMs Anatomy frequency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = most repeated | Questions in bold = Top 10 cannot-miss topics per the question bank