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

Injury to which nerve most directly causes wrist drop after a humeral shaft fracture?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Radial nerve

The radial nerve runs in the spiral groove of the humerus and innervates wrist and finger extensors, so injury can cause loss of extension and the characteristic wrist-drop posture.

Option by option

  • A. Ulnar nerve

    Ulnar-nerve injury produces intrinsic-hand weakness and clawing patterns.

  • B. Musculocutaneous nerve

    Musculocutaneous injury primarily affects elbow flexion and lateral forearm sensation.

  • C. Median nerve

    Median-nerve injury mainly affects thenar function and forearm pronation.

  • D. Radial nerve (correct)

    Correct: radial-nerve palsy weakens the extensor compartment and causes wrist drop.

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 D, Radial nerve. The radial nerve runs in the spiral groove of the humerus and innervates wrist and finger extensors, so injury can cause loss of extension and the characteristic wrist-drop posture.

Why is "Ulnar nerve" not the answer?

Ulnar-nerve injury produces intrinsic-hand weakness and clawing patterns.

Why is "Musculocutaneous nerve" not the answer?

Musculocutaneous injury primarily affects elbow flexion and lateral forearm sensation.

Why is "Median nerve" not the answer?

Median-nerve injury mainly affects thenar function and forearm pronation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb in Anatomy. The correct option holds because: Correct: radial-nerve palsy weakens the extensor compartment and causes wrist drop.

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.