Anatomical Areas

Question 1

What are the borders of the axilla?

Answer 1

Lateral - humerus
Medial - serratus anterior and the thoracic wall
Anterior - pectoralis major, minor and subclavius
Posterior - subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi
Base - skin of the armpit

Question 2

What are the contents of the axilla?

Answer 2

Axillary artery
Axillary vein
Brachial plexus
Biceps brachii and corocobrachialis
Axillary lymph nodes

Question 3

What procedure can be performed in the axilla to reduce the chance of breast cancer spreading?

Answer 3

Axillary clearance - removal of axillary nodes

Question 4

What can be damaged in axillary clearance and how would this present?

Answer 4

Long thoracic nerve may be damaged
Serratus anterior paralysed
Winged scapula

Question 5

What are the boundaries of the antecubital fossa?

Answer 5

Lateral - brachioradialis
Medial - pronator teres
Superior - line between the epicondyles of the humerus

Question 6

What are the contents of the antecubital fossa, laterally to medially?

Answer 6

Radial nerve
Biceps tendon
Brachial artery
Median nerve

Question 7

What can a supracondylar fracture lead to and how would this present?

Answer 7

Can damage or interfere with the blood supply of the forearm from the brachial artery
Leads to a Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture - uncontrolled Flexion of the hand as the flexors become fibrotic and short

Question 8

What are the borders of the axilla?

Answer 8

Lateral - humerus
Medial - serratus anterior and thoracic wall
Anterior - pectoralis major, minor and the subclavius muscles
Posterior - subscapularis, teres major and latissimus dorsi
Base - skin of the armpit

Question 9

What are the contents of the carpal tunnel?

Answer 9

Tendon of flexor pollicis longus
4 tendons of flexor digitorum superficialis
4 tendons of flexor digitorum profundus
Median nerve

Question 10

What are the borders of the carpel tunnel?

Answer 10

Flexor retinaculum

Carpal bones

Question 11

Carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to anaesthesia, paraesthesia or hypoesthesia to which part of the hand?

Answer 11

Lateral 3.5 digits

Palm is fine. Because the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve does not pass through the carpal tunnel.

Question 12

What are the borders of the anatomical snuff box?

Answer 12

Medial - tendon of extensor pollicis longus
Lateral - tendons of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis
Proximal border - stolid process of radius
Floor - scaphoid and trapezium
Roof - skin

Question 13

What are the contents of the anatomical snuffbox?

Answer 13

Radial artery
Radial nerve
Cephalic vein

Question 14

What is the likely cause of pain in the anatomical snuff box?

Answer 14

Scaphoid fracture

Question 15

That are the borders of the femoral triangle?

Answer 15

Superior - inguinal ligament
Lateral - sartorius
Medial - adductor longus
Roof - fascia latae
Base - pectineus, ilopsoas and adductor longus

Question 16

What are the contents of the femoral triangle from lateral to medial?

Answer 16

Femoral nerve
Femoral artery
Femoral vein
Femoral canal

Question 17

What vessels are contained within the femoral sheath?

Answer 17

Femoral artery
Femoral vein
Femoral canal

Question 18

What problem can arise in the femoral triangle that requires surgery to treat?

Answer 18

Femoral hernia

Question 19

What are the borders of the popliteal fossa?

Answer 19

Superiomedial - semimembranosus
Superiolateral - biceps femoris
Inferiomedial - medial head of gastrocnemius
Inferiolateral - lateral head of gastrocnemius

Question 20

What are the contents of the popliteal fossa from lateral to medial?

Answer 20

Common fibular nerve
Tibial nerve
Popliteal vein
Popliteal artery

Question 21

What is the condition in which the semimembranosus bursa becomes swelled and inflamed?

Answer 21

Baker’s cyst

Question 22

What condition originating in the popliteal fossa can lead to anaesthesia of the leg and why?

Answer 22

Popliteal aneurysm as it can compress the tibial nerve

Question 23

How can a popliteal aneurysm be detected?

Answer 23

Obvious palpable pulsation in the popliteal fossa