Upper limb and brachial plexus: first extensor compartment: 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: first extensor compartment

Sample item

A new mother has pain over the radial styloid, worsened when she grasps her baby with the thumb tucked in and the wrist deviated ulnarly. Which pair of tendons in the first dorsal compartment is involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis

De Quervain tenosynovitis affects the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis in the first dorsal compartment at the radial styloid. Finkelstein test, passive ulnar deviation with the thumb tucked in, reproduces the pain.

Option by option

  • A. Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis (correct)

    Correct. These two tendons share the first compartment at the radial styloid.

  • B. Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis

    These tendons share the second compartment and are not the source of pain with ulnar deviation.

  • C. Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis longus

    Extensor pollicis longus is in the third compartment, so this pair is wrong.

  • D. Extensor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis

    Extensor pollicis longus runs in the third compartment, so this pair is mismatched.

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, Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis. De Quervain tenosynovitis affects the abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis in the first dorsal compartment at the radial styloid.

Why is "Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis" not the answer?

These tendons share the second compartment and are not the source of pain with ulnar deviation.

Why is "Abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis longus" not the answer?

Extensor pollicis longus is in the third compartment, so this pair is wrong.

Why is "Extensor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis" not the answer?

Extensor pollicis longus runs in the third compartment, so this pair is mismatched.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Upper limb and brachial plexus: first extensor compartment in Anatomy. Finkelstein test, passive ulnar deviation with the thumb tucked in, reproduces the pain.

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: first extensor compartment?

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.