Upper Limb — MCQs
On this page
A patient suffers from a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus. Which nerve is most likely to be injured?
A 35-year-old patient presents with weakness in wrist flexion and numbness in the little finger following elbow trauma. Which nerve is most likely to be affected?
A patient reports a loss of sensation along the medial side of their hand. This symptom suggests an injury to which nerve?
What is the primary function of the deltoid muscle?
Which muscle's function is primarily assessed to evaluate damage to the axillary nerve?
Which nerve supplies the rhomboid major and minor muscles?
Which of the following arteries contributes MOST to the deep palmar arch?
Which muscle is primarily involved in the action of pulling oneself up while climbing a tree?
Which of the following muscles carries out shoulder abduction from 15 to 90 degrees?
Which of the following is a sensory region of the ulnar nerve?
Upper Limb Indian Medical PG Practice Questions and MCQs
Question 721: A patient suffers from a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus. Which nerve is most likely to be injured?
- A. Axillary nerve (Correct Answer)
- B. Radial nerve
- C. Median nerve
- D. Ulnar nerve
Explanation: Providing an explanation for your question about nerve injury in a humeral neck fracture: ***Axillary nerve*** - The **axillary nerve** wraps around the **surgical neck of the humerus**, making it highly vulnerable to injury in fractures of this region. - Injury can lead to **deltoid muscle paralysis** (difficulty with shoulder abduction) and sensory loss over the **regimental badge area**. *Radial nerve* - The **radial nerve** courses in the **spiral groove of the humerus**, making it susceptible to injury in **mid-shaft humeral fractures**, not typically surgical neck fractures. - Injury would primarily affect **wrist and finger extensors**, leading to **wrist drop**. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** travels along the medial side of the arm and is generally protected from injury in a surgical neck fracture. - Injury typically results in problems with **thumb opposition** and sensation over the **lateral palm and fingers (digits 1-3.5)**. *Ulnar nerve* - The **ulnar nerve** runs medially in the arm and passes behind the **medial epicondyle**, making it vulnerable to injury in elbow fractures or dislocations, and is usually spared in surgical neck fractures. - Injury would cause weakness in **intrinsic hand muscles** and sensory loss over the **medial 1.5 fingers**.
Question 722: A 35-year-old patient presents with weakness in wrist flexion and numbness in the little finger following elbow trauma. Which nerve is most likely to be affected?
- A. Median nerve
- B. Ulnar nerve (Correct Answer)
- C. Radial nerve
- D. Musculocutaneous nerve
Explanation: ***Ulnar nerve*** - The **ulnar nerve** innervates the **flexor carpi ulnaris** and the medial half of the **flexor digitorum profundus**, responsible for wrist flexion and flexion of the 4th and 5th digits. [1] - It also provides sensory innervation to the **little finger** and the ulnar half of the ring finger, explaining the reported numbness. [1] The **cubital tunnel** at the elbow is a common site of ulnar nerve compression or injury following trauma. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** primarily innervates the forearm flexors (excluding the flexor carpi ulnaris and medial flexor digitorum profundus) and most of the thenar muscles. - Sensory innervation of the **median nerve** includes the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and radial half of the ring finger. [1] Injury would typically affect these areas and spare the little finger. *Radial nerve* - The **radial nerve** is responsible for **wrist and finger extension**, not flexion. - Injury to the **radial nerve** would result in **wrist drop** and sensory deficits over the dorsum of the hand, not numbness in the little finger. *Musculocutaneous nerve* - The **musculocutaneous nerve** innervates the biceps brachii and brachialis muscles, responsible for **elbow flexion** and forearm supination. - It provides sensory innervation to the lateral forearm, but not the little finger or wrist flexion.
Question 723: A patient reports a loss of sensation along the medial side of their hand. This symptom suggests an injury to which nerve?
- A. Radial nerve
- B. Median nerve
- C. Ulnar nerve (Correct Answer)
- D. Musculocutaneous nerve
Explanation: ***Ulnar nerve*** - The **ulnar nerve** innervates the **medial side of the hand**, including the little finger and the medial half of the ring finger [1]. - A loss of sensation in this area, often described as the **"ulnar side"** of the hand, is a classic sign of ulnar nerve injury [1]. *Radial nerve* - The **radial nerve** primarily supplies sensation to the **posterior surface of the arm and forearm**, and the **dorsal aspect of the lateral 3.5 fingers**. - Injury typically results in wrist drop and sensory loss over the dorsal aspect of the hand. *Median nerve* - The **median nerve** provides sensation to the **lateral side of the palm**, thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the lateral half of the ring finger [1]. - Injury to this nerve leads to sensory deficits in this distribution, often associated with carpal tunnel syndrome [1]. *Musculocutaneous nerve* - The **musculocutaneous nerve** solely innervates the skin of the **lateral forearm** as the lateral cutaneous nerve of the forearm. - It does not supply any sensory innervation to the hand itself.
Question 724: What is the primary function of the deltoid muscle?
- A. Adduction of the shoulder
- B. Abduction of the shoulder (Correct Answer)
- C. Flexion of the elbow
- D. Extension of the wrist
Explanation: ***Abduction of the shoulder*** - The **deltoid muscle** is the major muscle responsible for **abducting the arm** at the shoulder joint, particularly after the initial 15-20 degrees. - Its different parts (anterior, middle, posterior) also contribute to flexion, extension, and rotation, but **abduction** is its primary and most powerful action. *Adduction of the shoulder* - **Adduction of the shoulder** involves moving the arm towards the midline of the body, which is primarily performed by muscles such as the **latissimus dorsi** and **pectoralis major**. - While some fibers of the deltoid can assist in adduction from certain positions, it is not its primary function. *Flexion of the elbow* - **Flexion of the elbow** involves bending the arm at the elbow joint and is primarily performed by muscles like the **biceps brachii**, **brachialis**, and **brachioradialis**. - The deltoid muscle is located at the shoulder and has no direct action on the elbow joint. *Extension of the wrist* - **Extension of the wrist** involves bending the hand backward at the wrist joint and is primarily performed by muscles in the forearm such as the **extensor carpi radialis** and **extensor digitorum**. - The deltoid muscle is a shoulder muscle and does not act on the wrist joint.
Question 725: Which muscle's function is primarily assessed to evaluate damage to the axillary nerve?
- A. Teres major
- B. Deltoid (Correct Answer)
- C. Pectoralis major
- D. Latissimus dorsi
Explanation: ***Deltoid*** - The **axillary nerve** innervates the **deltoid muscle**, which is responsible for **shoulder abduction** (lifting the arm away from the body) and some flexion/extension. - Damage to the axillary nerve typically results in **weakness** or **paralysis** of the deltoid, leading to impaired shoulder abduction. *Teres major* - The teres major muscle is primarily innervated by the **lower subscapular nerve**, not the axillary nerve. - Its main actions are **adduction** and **internal rotation** of the humerus. *Pectoralis major* - The pectoralis major is innervated by the **medial and lateral pectoral nerves** [1]. - This muscle is responsible for **adduction**, **flexion**, and **internal rotation** of the humerus. *Latissimus dorsi* - The latissimus dorsi muscle is innervated by the **thoracodorsal nerve** [1]. - Its functions include **extension**, **adduction**, and **internal rotation** of the humerus.
Question 726: Which nerve supplies the rhomboid major and minor muscles?
- A. Dorsal scapular nerve (Correct Answer)
- B. Thoracodorsal nerve
- C. Spinal accessory nerve
- D. Suprascapular nerve
Explanation: Dorsal scapular nerve - The **dorsal scapular nerve** directly innervates the **rhomboid major** and **rhomboid minor** muscles, as well as the **levator scapulae** muscle. - This nerve originates from the C5 root of the brachial plexus. *Thoracodorsal nerve* - The **thoracodorsal nerve** primarily innervates the **latissimus dorsi** muscle, which is involved in adduction, extension, and internal rotation of the humerus [1]. - This nerve arises from the posterior cord of the brachial plexus. *Spinal accessory nerve* - The **spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)** is responsible for innervating the **sternocleidomastoid** and **trapezius** muscles. - It plays a crucial role in neck movement and shoulder elevation. *Suprascapular nerve* - The **suprascapular nerve** supplies the **supraspinatus** and **infraspinatus** muscles, which are part of the rotator cuff. - Damage to this nerve can impair shoulder abduction and external rotation.
Question 727: Which of the following arteries contributes MOST to the deep palmar arch?
- A. Radial artery (Correct Answer)
- B. Ulnar artery
- C. Posterior interosseous artery
- D. Anterior interosseous artery
Explanation: ***Radial artery*** - The **radial artery** is the primary contributor to the **deep palmar arch**, giving off the **princeps pollicis artery** and the **radialis indicis artery** before continuing as the main part of the arch. - It anastomoses with the deep branch of the ulnar artery to complete the arch. *Ulnar artery* - The **deep branch of the ulnar artery** contributes to the deep palmar arch, but it is a smaller, anastomotic component rather than the primary contributor itself. - The ulnar artery is the primary contributor to the **superficial palmar arch**. *Posterior interosseous artery* - The **posterior interosseous artery** supplies muscles in the posterior compartment of the forearm and does not directly contribute to the deep palmar arch. - It arises from the common interosseous artery and terminates in the wrist region, supplying the dorsal carpal network. *Anterior interosseous artery* - The **anterior interosseous artery** supplies muscles of the deep anterior forearm compartment and gives off branches to the wrist but does not directly form the deep palmar arch. - It also contributes to the **palmar carpal arch** but not the deep palmar arch.
Question 728: Which muscle is primarily involved in the action of pulling oneself up while climbing a tree?
- A. Latissimus Dorsi (Correct Answer)
- B. Rhomboideus
- C. Trapezius
- D. Levator scapulae
Explanation: ***Latissimus Dorsi*** - The **latissimus dorsi** is the widest muscle in the back and is crucial for adduction, extension, and internal rotation of the arm, making it the primary muscle for **pulling motions** such as climbing, chin-ups, and rowing [1]. - Its broad origins from the thoracolumbar fascia, iliac crest, and lower ribs allow it to exert significant force on the humerus, effectively pulling the body upward relative to the fixed upper limbs [1]. *Rhomboideus* - The **rhomboid major** and **minor** muscles are primarily responsible for retracting, elevating, and rotating the scapula downwards. - While they stabilize the scapula during pulling motions, they are not the main movers responsible for the overall body-raising action against gravity. *Trapezius* - The **trapezius** muscle has several parts, primarily involved in elevating, depressing, retracting, and rotating the scapula. - While it assists in stabilizing the shoulder girdle during pulling, its main role is not the direct pulling of the entire body upward. *Levator scapulae* - The **levator scapulae** muscle primarily elevates and rotates the scapula downwards. - It plays a minor role in maintaining shoulder posture but is not a significant contributor to the powerful pulling action required to lift oneself while climbing.
Question 729: Which of the following muscles carries out shoulder abduction from 15 to 90 degrees?
- A. Trapezius
- B. Deltoid (Correct Answer)
- C. Serratus Anterior
- D. Supraspinatus
Explanation: ***Deltoid*** - The **deltoid muscle** is the primary mover for **shoulder abduction** between **15 and 90 degrees**, continuing the initial movement started by the supraspinatus. - Its **middle fibers** are most effective in this range, pulling the humerus laterally away from the body. *Supraspinatus* - The **supraspinatus muscle** initiates **shoulder abduction** from **0 to 15 degrees**. - Beyond 15 degrees, its contribution to abduction becomes less significant compared to the deltoid. *Trapezius* - The **trapezius muscle** primarily acts to **rotate**, **retract**, and **elevate the scapula**. - It assists in shoulder abduction above **90 degrees** by upwardly rotating the scapula, but it is not directly responsible for abduction in the 15-90 degree range. *Serratus Anterior* - The **serratus anterior** is crucial for **scapular protraction** and **upward rotation** of the scapula. - It contributes to **shoulder abduction** above **90 degrees** by positioning the glenoid cavity upwards, but it does not directly abduct the arm.
Question 730: Which of the following is a sensory region of the ulnar nerve?
- A. Tip of little finger (Correct Answer)
- B. Tip of index finger
- C. 1st web space
- D. Lateral upper aspect of arm
Explanation: ***Tip of little finger*** - The **ulnar nerve** innervates the medial side of the hand, including the **little finger** and the medial half of the ring finger, both dorsally and palmarly [1]. - Sensation to the **tip of the little finger** is exclusively supplied by the ulnar nerve, making it a reliable indicator of its sensory function. *Tip of index finger* - The **tip of the index finger** receives its sensory innervation from the **median nerve**, specifically via its digital branches [1]. - Testing sensation here assesses the function of the median nerve, not the ulnar nerve. *1st web space* - The sensory innervation of the **1st web space** (between the thumb and index finger) is primarily by the **radial nerve**, via its superficial branch. - This area is crucial for assessing radial nerve function. *Lateral upper aspect of arm* - The sensation of the **lateral upper aspect of the arm** is primarily supplied by the **axillary nerve** (via the superior lateral cutaneous nerve of the arm) and partially by the **radial nerve**. - This region is distant from the hand and not innervated by the ulnar nerve.
Practice by Chapter
Pectoral Region and Axilla
Practice Questions
Arm and Cubital Fossa
Practice Questions
Forearm and Hand
Practice Questions
Joints of Upper Limb
Practice Questions
Nerves of Upper Limb
Practice Questions
Arterial Supply and Venous Drainage
Practice Questions
Lymphatic Drainage
Practice Questions
Muscles and Their Actions
Practice Questions
Applied Anatomy and Clinical Correlations
Practice Questions
Surface Anatomy and Landmarks
Practice Questions
Want unlimited practice?
Get full access to all questions, explanations, and performance tracking.
Start For Free