Lower limb: rectus femoris origin: 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 · Lower limb: rectus femoris origin

Sample item

A teenage footballer feels a sudden pain in the groin when kicking and an X-ray shows avulsion of a bony fragment from the anterior inferior iliac spine. Which muscle was pulled?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Rectus femoris

The straight head of rectus femoris arises from the anterior inferior iliac spine and the reflected head from above the acetabulum. Forceful kicking can avulse the apophysis in adolescents. Sartorius and tensor fasciae latae arise from the anterior superior spine.

Option by option

  • A. Tensor fasciae latae

    This muscle arises from the iliac crest and anterior superior spine.

  • B. Rectus femoris (correct)

    Correct. The straight head arises from the anterior inferior iliac spine.

  • C. Iliacus

    This muscle arises from the iliac fossa and does not attach to the anterior inferior spine.

  • D. Sartorius

    This muscle arises from the anterior superior iliac spine.

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, Rectus femoris. The straight head of rectus femoris arises from the anterior inferior iliac spine and the reflected head from above the acetabulum.

Why is "Tensor fasciae latae" not the answer?

This muscle arises from the iliac crest and anterior superior spine.

Why is "Iliacus" not the answer?

This muscle arises from the iliac fossa and does not attach to the anterior inferior spine.

Why is "Sartorius" not the answer?

This muscle arises from the anterior superior iliac spine.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: rectus femoris origin in Anatomy. Forceful kicking can avulse the apophysis in adolescents. Sartorius and tensor fasciae latae arise from the anterior superior spine.

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 Lower limb: rectus femoris origin?

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.