Upper limb: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Anatomy · Upper limb

Sample item

A 24-year-old man falls on his shoulder and fractures the surgical neck of the humerus. Which nerve is most at risk, and what would you expect on examination?

AAxillary nerve: weak abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulderBMusculocutaneous nerve: weak elbow flexion and numbness of the lateral forearmCRadial nerve: wrist drop and numbness of the first dorsal web spaceDUlnar nerve: claw hand and numbness of the medial one and a half fingers

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Axillary nerve: weak abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulder

The axillary nerve (C5–C6) wraps around the surgical neck of the humerus together with the posterior circumflex humeral vessels. It supplies deltoid and teres minor and the skin over the lower deltoid, the 'regimental badge' area.

Option by option

A. Axillary nerve: weak abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulder (correct)
Correct. This nerve hugs the surgical neck, so the fracture or a dislocation can stretch or tear it.
B. Musculocutaneous nerve: weak elbow flexion and numbness of the lateral forearm
The musculocutaneous nerve runs through coracobrachialis, well away from the surgical neck.
C. Radial nerve: wrist drop and numbness of the first dorsal web space
The radial nerve lies in the spiral groove on the shaft, so it is the nerve to think of in mid-shaft fractures.
D. Ulnar nerve: claw hand and numbness of the medial one and a half fingers
The ulnar nerve passes behind the medial epicondyle at the elbow, far from the shoulder.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Axillary nerve: weak abduction and numbness over the lateral shoulder. The axillary nerve (C5–C6) wraps around the surgical neck of the humerus together with the posterior circumflex humeral vessels.

Why is "Musculocutaneous nerve: weak elbow flexion and numbness of the latera…" not the answer?

The musculocutaneous nerve runs through coracobrachialis, well away from the surgical neck.

Why is "Radial nerve: wrist drop and numbness of the first dorsal web space" not the answer?

The radial nerve lies in the spiral groove on the shaft, so it is the nerve to think of in mid-shaft fractures.

Why is "Ulnar nerve: claw hand and numbness of the medial one and a half fing…" not the answer?

The ulnar nerve passes behind the medial epicondyle at the elbow, far from the shoulder.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb in Anatomy. It supplies deltoid and teres minor and the skin over the lower deltoid, the 'regimental badge' area.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Upper limb?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.