Posterior Forearm

Question 1

What are the 7 superficial muscles of the posterior forearm and what are they innervated by?

Answer 1

Brachioradialis - radial nerve.
Extensor carpi radialis longus - radial nerve.
Extensor carpi radialis brevis - radial nerve.
Extensor digitorum - radial nerve.
Extensor digiti minimi - radial nerve.
Extensor carpi ulnaris - radial nerve.
Anconeus - radial nerve.

Question 2

The common extensor tendon is a tendon that attaches to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and serves as the upper attachment for which superficial muscles of the forearm?

Answer 2

Extensor carpi radialis brevis.
Extensor digitorum.
Extensor digiti minimi.
Extensor carpi ulnaris.

Question 3

What is lateral epicondylitis more commonly known as?

Answer 3

Tennis elbow

Question 4

What is tennis elbow?

Answer 4

Tendinitis of the extensor forearm muscle origins. Pain around the lateral epicondyle.

Question 5

What is golfer’s elbow?

Answer 5

Tendinitis of the flexor forearm muscle origins. Pain around the medial epicondyle.

Question 6

What are the 5 deep muscles of the posterior forearm and what are they innervated by?

Answer 6

Supination - radial nerve.
Abductor pollicis longus - radial nerve.
Extensor pollicis brevis - radial nerve.
Extensor pollicis longus - radial nerve.
Extensor indices - radial nerve.

Question 7

What are the borders of the anatomical snuffbox?

Answer 7

Lateral - tendons of abductor pollicis longus and extensor pollicis brevis.
Medial - tendon of extensor pollicis longus.
Floor - scaphoid bone.
Roof - skin.

Question 8

What is the contents of the anatomical snuffbox?

Answer 8

Radial artery.

Question 9

What is a colles’ fracture?

Answer 9

Fracture of the distal radius in the forearm with dorsal (posterior) and radial displacement of the wrist and hand.

Question 10

What is a Smith’s fracture?

Answer 10

Fracture of the distal radius with palmar displacement of the wrist and hand.

Question 11

What is a dinner fork deformity?

Answer 11

Seen in Colles’ fracture

Question 12

What type of fracture does falling onto extended wrists cause?

Answer 12

Colles’ fracture

Question 13

What type of fracture does falling onto flexed wrists cause?

Answer 13

Smith’s fracture

Question 14

A fracture to which bone would cause a finger to displace inwards when forming a fist?

Answer 14

Fractured metacarpal

Question 15

What is tenosynovitis?

Answer 15

Inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath (called the synovium) that surrounds a tendon.

Question 16

What clinical signs are seen in the hands in osteoarthritis?

Answer 16

Heberden’s and Bouchard’s nodes

Question 17

What clinical deformities are seen in rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 17

Symmetrical swelling at MCP, PIP and wrist joints.
Ulnar deviation of the fingers and wrist.
Z deformity of the thumb.
Swan neck deformity.
Boutonnière deformity.

Question 18

What causes osteoarthritis?

Answer 18

Wear and tear.

Question 19

What causes rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 19

Immune system attacking body

Question 20

What is seen on X-rays in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 20

Osteoarthritis - osteophytes, joint space narrowing, sclerosis.
Rheumatoid arthritis - eosings, synovitus and soft tissue swellings.

Question 21

Do patients present with other symptoms in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Answer 21

Osteoarthritis- affects joints only.

Rheumatoid arthritis - patients can also present with extra-articular features eg fatigue, eye and skin problems.