Upper limb: brachial plexus: 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: brachial plexus

Sample item

A fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus leaves a patient unable to abduct the arm from 15 to 90 degrees and causes numbness over the lateral shoulder. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Axillary nerve

The axillary nerve supplies deltoid, which abducts the arm after supraspinatus initiates movement, and provides sensation over the regimental-badge area.

Option by option

  • A. Axillary nerve (correct)

    Correct. Deltoid weakness plus lateral-shoulder sensory loss localises to the axillary nerve.

  • B. Suprascapular nerve

    Suprascapular nerve initiates abduction but does not supply the regimental-badge area.

  • C. Musculocutaneous nerve

    Musculocutaneous nerve supplies elbow flexors and lateral forearm sensation.

  • D. Radial nerve

    Radial nerve injury causes wrist drop and dorsal hand sensory loss.

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, Axillary nerve. The axillary nerve supplies deltoid, which abducts the arm after supraspinatus initiates movement, and provides sensation over the regimental-badge area.

Why is "Suprascapular nerve" not the answer?

Suprascapular nerve initiates abduction but does not supply the regimental-badge area.

Why is "Musculocutaneous nerve" not the answer?

Musculocutaneous nerve supplies elbow flexors and lateral forearm sensation.

Why is "Radial nerve" not the answer?

Radial nerve injury causes wrist drop and dorsal hand sensory loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb: brachial plexus in Anatomy. The correct option holds because: Correct. Deltoid weakness plus lateral-shoulder sensory loss localises to the axillary nerve.

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: brachial plexus?

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.