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.

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Anatomy · Upper limb

Sample item

Which nerve is compressed in the carpal tunnel at the wrist?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Median nerve

The median nerve passes beneath the flexor retinaculum in the carpal tunnel, so compression can cause nocturnal paresthesia and sensory symptoms in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of ring finger.

Option by option

  • A. Median nerve (correct)

    Correct: the median nerve traverses the carpal tunnel.

  • B. Radial nerve

    The radial nerve does not pass through the carpal tunnel.

  • C. Ulnar nerve

    The ulnar nerve passes through Guyon's canal rather than the carpal tunnel.

  • D. Axillary nerve

    The axillary nerve is located near the surgical neck of the humerus.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Median nerve. The median nerve passes beneath the flexor retinaculum in the carpal tunnel, so compression can cause nocturnal paresthesia and sensory symptoms in the thumb, index, middle, and radial half of ring finger.

Why is "Radial nerve" not the answer?

The radial nerve does not pass through the carpal tunnel.

Why is "Ulnar nerve" not the answer?

The ulnar nerve passes through Guyon's canal rather than the carpal tunnel.

Why is "Axillary nerve" not the answer?

The axillary nerve is located near the surgical neck of the humerus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb in Anatomy. The correct option holds because: Correct: the median nerve traverses the carpal tunnel.

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.