FMGE 2025 - Anatomy PYQs Practice Questions

Q: A 45-year-old woman presented with tingling sensation of lateral 3 digits with loss of sensation of base of thumb on the dorsal aspect of the hand. Which is the nerve involved?

Radial nerve. ***Radial nerve*** - The **superficial branch of the radial nerve** provides sensory innervation to the dorsal aspect of the hand, including the dorsal surface of the thumb, index, middle, and the radial half of the ring finger up to the nail beds [1]. - The patient's symptoms of sensory loss at the **dorsal base of the thumb** (anatomical snuffbox) and tingling in the lateral digits are classic signs of superficial radial nerve involvement [1]. *Ulnar nerve* - The **ulnar nerve** provides sensation to the medial one and a half digits (the little finger and the medial half of the ring finger) on both the palmar and dorsal sides [1]. - Involvement of the ulnar nerve would not cause sensory changes in the lateral three digits or the thumb. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** supplies sensation to the palmar aspect of the lateral three and a half digits and the nail beds on the dorsal side [1]. - It does not supply the dorsal aspect of the hand or the base of the thumb, which is a key localizing feature in this case. Common entrapment leads to **carpal tunnel syndrome** [2]. *AIN* - The **Anterior Interosseous Nerve (AIN)** is a purely **motor** branch of the median nerve [2]. - An injury to the AIN would result in motor weakness, specifically an inability to flex the thumb and index finger to make an 'OK' sign, but would not cause any sensory loss [2]. [Practice more Anatomy PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: What is the type of cartilage present in the histology section given below?

Hyaline cartilage. ***Hyaline cartilage*** - The image displays a **homogenous, glassy matrix** with **chondrocytes** residing in spaces called **lacunae**. This appearance is due to the presence of fine **Type II collagen** fibrils that are not visible with a standard light microscope. - A **perichondrium**, the layer of dense connective tissue seen on the left, is typically present and provides nourishment. This type of cartilage is found in the **trachea**, **larynx**, and **articular surfaces of bones**. *Elastic cartilage* - This cartilage is characterized by a matrix containing abundant **elastic fibers**, which would appear as dark, branching lines, giving it a less homogenous look. These fibers are not visible in the provided slide. - It is found in structures that require flexibility and the ability to recoil, such as the **epiglottis** and the **external ear** (pinna). *Articular cartilage* - While histologically a type of hyaline cartilage, articular cartilage specifically covers the ends of bones in **synovial joints** and is distinguished by its **lack of a perichondrium**. - The image clearly shows a perichondrium on the left side, making it more likely to be hyaline cartilage from a location like the respiratory tract rather than a joint surface. *Fibrocartilage* - Fibrocartilage has a distinct, fibrous appearance due to thick, parallel bundles of **Type I collagen** within its matrix, which is absent in this image. - It is a transitional tissue between dense connective tissue and hyaline cartilage, found in areas requiring great tensile strength, like the **intervertebral discs** and **pubic symphysis**. [Practice more Anatomy PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: A renal biopsy image is shown. Identify the cells marked in the histological section.

Lacis cells. ***Lacis cells*** - The highlighted cells are **extraglomerular mesangial cells**, also known as Lacis cells, located in the triangular space between the afferent arteriole, efferent arteriole, and macula densa at the vascular pole of the glomerulus. - They are part of the **juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA)** and are thought to play a role in transmitting signals from the macula densa to the juxtaglomerular cells, contributing to **tubuloglomerular feedback**. *Macula densa* - These are specialized, densely packed epithelial cells in the wall of the **distal convoluted tubule** where it contacts the glomerulus. The highlighted cells are situated outside of any tubule. - Macula densa cells function as **chemoreceptors** that monitor the **sodium chloride** concentration in the tubular fluid, regulating renin release and glomerular filtration rate. *Juxtaglomerular (JG) cells* - These are modified smooth muscle cells located primarily in the wall of the **afferent arteriole**. The cells in the image are not within an arteriolar wall. - JG cells synthesize, store, and secrete **renin**, and they function as **mechanoreceptors** by sensing changes in blood pressure within the afferent arteriole. *Podocytes* - These are specialized cells located **inside Bowman's capsule**, wrapping around the glomerular capillaries. The highlighted cells are distinctly **extraglomerular** (outside the glomerulus). - Podocytes form **filtration slits** with their interdigitating foot processes (**pedicels**), which are a critical component of the glomerular filtration barrier. [Practice more Anatomy PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Identify the lymphatic structure from the histology section given below?

Thymus. ***Thymus*** - The histology shows lymphoid tissue organized into **lobules** separated by connective tissue septa, with each lobule having a darkly stained outer **cortex** and a paler inner **medulla**. - The medulla contains **Hassall's corpuscles**, which are pathognomonic for the thymus, and the cortex lacks the germinal centers found in other lymphoid organs. *Tonsil* - Tonsils are characterized by an overlying **stratified squamous epithelium** that invaginates to form deep **tonsillar crypts**, neither of which is present in this image. - They contain numerous lymphoid follicles with prominent germinal centers but lack the distinct lobulated cortico-medullary architecture of the thymus. *Lymph node* - A lymph node has a distinct architecture with a **subcapsular sinus**, a cortex with B-cell follicles, a paracortex, and a medulla with medullary cords and sinuses, which is structurally different from the image provided. - The lobulated pattern with clear cortico-medullary differentiation within each lobule is a key feature of the thymus, not a lymph node. *Spleen* - The spleen's parenchyma is divided into **red pulp** (containing sinusoids) and **white pulp** (lymphoid tissue), an organization not seen in this section. - Splenic white pulp is characterized by a **central arteriole** surrounded by a **periarteriolar lymphoid sheath (PALS)**, a feature absent in the image. [Practice more Anatomy PYQs on OnCourse]

Q: Which of the following images displays the characteristic histology of the Thymus?

Image of Thymus. ***Image of Thymus*** - The image correctly illustrates the key histological features of the thymus, including the division of thymic lobules into a dark outer **cortex** and a lighter inner **medulla**. - A pathognomonic feature shown is the presence of **Hassall's (thymic) corpuscles**, which are whorls of epithelial reticular cells found exclusively in the thymic medulla. *Image of Tonsil* - Tonsillar histology is characterized by deep invaginations called **tonsillar crypts** and numerous **lymphoid follicles** with prominent germinal centers, neither of which are depicted in the image. - Tonsils are covered by **stratified squamous epithelium** (in palatine and lingual tonsils) or pseudostratified columnar epithelium (in pharyngeal tonsils), a feature not seen in the thymus. *Image of Lymph node* - A lymph node has a distinct architecture with a **cortex** containing **lymphoid follicles**, a **paracortex**, and a **medulla** with medullary cords and sinuses, which is structurally different from the image provided. - Lymph nodes are surrounded by a capsule with afferent lymphatic vessels and a **subcapsular sinus**, features that are absent in the thymus. *Image of Spleen* - Splenic histology is organized into **red pulp** and **white pulp**. The white pulp consists of **lymphoid follicles** and **periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths (PALS)** surrounding a central arteriole, which is not shown. - The red pulp, which makes up the majority of the spleen, contains **splenic sinusoids** and the **cords of Billroth**, structures for filtering blood that are absent in the thymus. [Practice more Anatomy PYQs on OnCourse]

Question 1

A 45-year-old woman presented with tingling sensation of lateral 3 digits with loss of sensation of base of thumb on the dorsal aspect of the hand. Which is the nerve involved?

Accepted Answer

Radial nerve

Answer

Median nerve

Answer

AIN

Answer

Ulnar nerve

Question 2

What is the type of cartilage present in the histology section given below?

Accepted Answer

Hyaline cartilage

Answer

Articular cartilage

Answer

Fibrocartilage

Answer

Elastic cartilage

Question 3

A renal biopsy image is shown. Identify the cells marked in the histological section.

Accepted Answer

Lacis cells

Answer

Podocytes

Answer

Juxtaglomerular (JG) cells

Answer

Macula densa

Question 4

Identify the lymphatic structure from the histology section given below?

Accepted Answer

Thymus

Answer

Spleen

Answer

Lymph node

Answer

Tonsil

Question 5

Which of the following images displays the characteristic histology of the Thymus?

Accepted Answer

Image of Thymus

Answer

Image of Spleen

Answer

Image of Lymph node

Answer

Image of Tonsil

Question 6

Which among the following is a pressure epiphysis?

Accepted Answer

Head of Humerus

Answer

Elbow joint

Answer

Sternum

Answer

Wrist joint

Question 7

Identify the level of lymph nodes indicated in the marked region of the neck in the given anatomical image.

Accepted Answer

Level II

Answer

Level Ib

Answer

Level Ia

Answer

Level IV

Question 8

Identify the structure marked in the image.

Accepted Answer

Right Hepatic artery

Answer

Cystic duct

Answer

Cystic artery

Answer

Hepatic duct

Question 9

A patient presents with loss of sensation on the posterior surface of the ear along with a lesion. Which structure is most likely involved?

Accepted Answer

Greater Auricular Nerve

Answer

External Carotid Artery

Answer

External Jugular Vein

Answer

Internal Jugular Vein

Question 10

What is the most common type of ventricular septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Membranous defect

Answer

Incomplete fusion of the septum

Answer

Non-development of the perimembranous part of the septum

Answer

Muscular defect

FMGE 2025 — Anatomy