Elbow: lateral epicondylitis: 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 · Elbow: lateral epicondylitis

Sample item

A 42-year-old badminton player has pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, worse on resisted wrist extension with the elbow straight. Which tendon origin is mainly involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Extensor carpi radialis brevis

Tennis elbow is a degenerative tendinopathy at the common extensor origin on the lateral epicondyle, mainly of extensor carpi radialis brevis. Pain occurs on gripping and resisted wrist extension. Golfer's elbow involves the common flexor origin at the medial epicondyle.

Option by option

  • A. Extensor carpi radialis brevis (correct)

    Correct. Extensor carpi radialis brevis is the tendon most often affected.

  • B. Pronator teres

    Pronator teres arises from the medial side of the elbow.

  • C. Flexor carpi radialis

    Flexor carpi radialis arises from the medial epicondyle and is involved in golfer's elbow.

  • D. Brachioradialis insertion

    Brachioradialis inserts on the distal radius, not the epicondyle.

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.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Extensor carpi radialis brevis. Tennis elbow is a degenerative tendinopathy at the common extensor origin on the lateral epicondyle, mainly of extensor carpi radialis brevis.

Why is "Pronator teres" not the answer?

Pronator teres arises from the medial side of the elbow.

Why is "Flexor carpi radialis" not the answer?

Flexor carpi radialis arises from the medial epicondyle and is involved in golfer's elbow.

Why is "Brachioradialis insertion" not the answer?

Brachioradialis inserts on the distal radius, not the epicondyle.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Elbow: lateral epicondylitis in Anatomy. Pain occurs on gripping and resisted wrist extension. Golfer's elbow involves the common flexor origin at the medial epicondyle.

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 Elbow: lateral epicondylitis?

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.