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.

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Anatomy · Upper limb: brachial plexus

Sample item

A patient cannot abduct the arm from 15 to 90 degrees and has numbness over the lateral shoulder after dislocation. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Axillary nerve

The axillary nerve supplies deltoid, which abducts the arm after supraspinatus initiates movement, and supplies sensation over the regimental-badge area. It is vulnerable in anterior shoulder dislocation.

Option by option

  • A. Radial nerve

    Radial nerve supplies wrist and finger extensors.

  • B. Ulnar nerve

    Ulnar nerve affects intrinsic hand muscles and medial digits.

  • C. Axillary nerve (correct)

    Correct. Deltoid weakness and lateral shoulder sensory loss localize to the axillary nerve.

  • D. Musculocutaneous nerve

    Musculocutaneous nerve supplies elbow flexors and lateral forearm sensation.

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

Why is "Radial nerve" not the answer?

Radial nerve supplies wrist and finger extensors.

Why is "Ulnar nerve" not the answer?

Ulnar nerve affects intrinsic hand muscles and medial digits.

Why is "Musculocutaneous nerve" not the answer?

Musculocutaneous nerve supplies elbow flexors and lateral forearm sensation.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb: brachial plexus in Anatomy. It is vulnerable in anterior shoulder dislocation.

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.