Upper limb and brachial plexus: late tendon rupture after wrist fracture: 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 and brachial plexus: late tendon rupture after wrist fracture

Sample item

Eight weeks after a minimally displaced distal radial fracture, a woman suddenly cannot extend the interphalangeal joint of her thumb. Which tendon, running around the dorsal radial tubercle, has ruptured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Extensor pollicis longus

The extensor pollicis longus tendon changes direction at the dorsal radial tubercle of Lister and has a poor blood supply there. It may rupture after a distal radial fracture, so the thumb interphalangeal joint cannot extend.

Option by option

  • A. Abductor pollicis longus

    This tendon abducts the thumb and lies in the first compartment, not around Lister tubercle.

  • B. Extensor pollicis longus (correct)

    Correct. This tendon turns around Lister tubercle and is prone to late rupture.

  • C. Extensor pollicis brevis

    This tendon extends the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb and runs in the first compartment.

  • D. Extensor indicis

    This tendon extends the index finger and lies in the fourth compartment.

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 B, Extensor pollicis longus. The extensor pollicis longus tendon changes direction at the dorsal radial tubercle of Lister and has a poor blood supply there.

Why is "Abductor pollicis longus" not the answer?

This tendon abducts the thumb and lies in the first compartment, not around Lister tubercle.

Why is "Extensor pollicis brevis" not the answer?

This tendon extends the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb and runs in the first compartment.

Why is "Extensor indicis" not the answer?

This tendon extends the index finger and lies in the fourth compartment.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb and brachial plexus: late tendon rupture after wrist fracture in Anatomy. It may rupture after a distal radial fracture, so the thumb interphalangeal joint cannot extend.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 and brachial plexus: late tendon rupture after wrist fracture?

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.