spinal anatomy sample questions

Question 1

Which structure develops from the first pharyngeal arch?

a. stylopharyngeus muscle
b. tensor tympanic muscle
c. temporal bone
d. hyoid bone

Answer 1

b. tensor tympanic muscle

muscle within the ear above the auditory tube; dampens sounds

Question 2

which muscle inserts into the fibrocartilaginous disc of the temporomandibular joint?

a. masseter
b. lateral pterygoid
c. medial pterygoid
d. temporalis

Answer 2

b. lateral pterygoid

the superior head inserts into the disc of the TMJ joint
the inferior head inserts onto the neck of the condyloid process of the mandible

Question 3

Fibers of the trapezius muscle insert onto the _____

a. lateral surface of the mastoid
b. transverse process of cervical vertebrae
c. inferior angle of the scapula
d. lateral third of the clavicle

Answer 3

d. lateral third of the clavicle

the superior fibers insert into the lateral 3rd of the clavicle

Question 4

the anterior belly of the digastric muscle receives motor supply from the ____ nerve.

a. nasopalatine
b. mylohyoid
c. hypoglossal
d. accessory

Answer 4

b. mylohyoid

anterior belly is supplied by the trigeminal via the mylohyoid nerve, a branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, itself a branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve. It originates from the first pharyngeal arch.

Question 5

which muscle originates on the angles of the lower 6 ribs and inserts on the angles of the upper 6 ribs?

a. semispinalis thoracis
b. iliocostalis thoracis
c. longissimus thoracis
d. spinalis thoracis

Answer 5

b. iliocostalis thoracis

Question 6

which of these thoracic wall muscles is not innervated by the intercostal nerve?

a. subcostal
b. levator costarum
c. internal intercostal
d. external intercostal

Answer 6

b. levator costarum

Question 7

the diaphragm is derived from the myotomes of which vertebral segments?

a. C3-C5
b. C6-7
c. T1-T3
d. T9-T10

Answer 7

a. C3-C5

because the phrenic nerve innervates the diaphragm, the earliest development originates from C3-C5

Question 8

The atlanto-axial joint is a ______ joint.

a. ellipsoidal
b. pivot
c. condyloid
d. sellar

Answer 8

b. pivot

Question 9

The acromioclavicular joint is a _____ joint.

a. bicondylar
b. saddle
c. hinge
d. plane

Answer 9

d. plane

plane/ gliding joint

Question 10

The interspinous ligaments are thickest in which region of the spine?

a. cervical
b. thoracic
c. lumbar
d. sacral

Answer 10

c. lumbar

Question 11

which ligament covers the interosseous sacroiliac ligament?

a. anterior longitudinal
b. flaval
c. iliolumbar
d. posterior sacroiliac

Answer 11

d. posterior sacroiliac ligament

Question 12

Calcification of the ____ forms a posterior ponticle.

a. dentate ligament
b. transforaminal ligament
c. posterior atlanto-occipital ligament
d. anterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Answer 12

c. posterior atlanto-occipital ligament

Question 13

What maintains the normal thoracic curve?

a. superior articular facet
b. slightly wedge-shaped vertebral bodies
c. inferior articular facet orientation
d. angulation of spinous processes

Answer 13

b. slightly wedge-shaped vertebral bodies?

I am not 100% on this one

Question 14

the normal coupled motion of the midcervical vertebrae is lateral flexion with ____ of the vertebral bodies.

a. ipsilateral rotation
b. flexion
c. extension
d. contralateral flexion

Answer 14

a. ipsilateral rotation

Question 15

The foramen rotundum connects the middle cranial fossa with the _____.

a. orbital cavity
b. infratemporal fossa
c. temporal fossa
d. pterygopalatine fossa

Answer 15

d. pterygopalatine fossa

Question 16

The transverse ridges of the sacrum are remnants of _____.

a. transverse processes
b. intervertebral discs
c. vertebral bodies
d. spinous processes

Answer 16

b. intervertebral discs

Question 17

The accessory processes of the lumbar vertebrae are located on the _______.

a. transverse process
b. pars
c. pedicle
d. lamina

Answer 17

a. transverse process

Question 18

The external occipital protuberance is located _____.

a. centrally within the superior nuchal line
b. centrally within the inferior nuchal line
c. at the junction of the sagittal and lambdoidal sutures
d. at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures

Answer 18

a. centrally within the superior nuchal line

Question 19

Which of these traverses a groove on the first rib?

a. phrenic nerve
b. vagus nerve
c. subclavian artery
d. vertebral artery

Answer 19

c. subclavian artery

Question 20

The inferior facets of the lumbar vertebrae are oriented ____ and ____.

a. inferior; medial
b. medial; posterior
c. anterior; lateral
d. anterior; medial

Answer 20

c. anterior; lateral

Question 21

efferent projections of the caudate nucleus and putamen pass primarily to the ______.

a. globus pallidus
b. thalamus
c. substantia nigra
d. hypothalamus

Answer 21

a. globus pallidus

but also some to substantia nigra; best answer is globus pallidus

these nuclei receive afferent nerve fibers from virtually all portions of the cerebral cortex, but especially from the premotor areas

Question 22

Which gyrus contains Broca area?

a. superior occipital
b. inferior occipital
c. superior temporal
d. inferior frontal

Answer 22

d. inferior frontal

Question 23

A lesion in the lateral funiculus that affects the pyramidal and extrapyramidal tracts is most likely to result in signs consistent with a _____ lesion.

a. vestibular system
b. upper motor neuron
c. corpus striatum
d. lower motor neuron

Answer 23

b. upper motor neuron

Question 24

Which tract terminates in the upper cervical segments of the spinal cord?

a. ventral spinocerebellar
b. rubrospinal
c. vestubulospinal
d. lateral corticospinal

Answer 24

b. rubrospinal

also tectospinal terminates in the upper 4 cervical cord levels

Question 25

Which artery is a continuation of the internal carotid artery? a. inferior cerebellar b. basilar c. middle cerebral d. posterior cerebral

Answer 25

c. middle cerebral

Question 26

Which of these connects the 3rd and 4th ventricles? a. lateral aperture b. interventricular foramen c. cerebral aqueduct d. median aperture

Answer 26

c. cerebral aqueduct of sylvius

Question 27

the notochord is derived from the embryonic _____. a. endoderm b. scleroderm c. ectoderm d. mesoderm

Answer 27

c. ectoderm

Question 28

the pathway which link gyri are made up of ____ fibers. a. uncinate b. association c. commissural d. projection

Answer 28

b. association

Question 29

A lesion of which nerve root will most likely result in an inability of the patient to extend the great toe? a. L2 b. L3 c. L5 d. S1

Answer 29

C. L5

Question 30

The zygapophyseal joints are innervated by the _____. a. ventral primary rami b. dorsal primary rami c. gray rami communicans d. white rami communicans

Answer 30

b. dorsal primary rami zygapophyseal= facet joint

Question 31

The obturator nerve contains fibers from which nerve roots? a. L1 b. L2-L4 c. L5-S1 d. S1 only

Answer 31

b. L2-L4 L1= iliohypogastric and ilioinguinal

Question 32

Which nerve innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx? a. phrenic b. vagus c. glossopharyngeal d. facial

Answer 32

b. vagus all intrinsic muscles of larynx are innervated by the recurrent laryngeal branch of vagus EXCEPT cricothyroid which is innervated by the external laryngeal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (branch of vagus)

Question 33

Which muscle is innervated by the hypoglossal nerve? a. styloglossus b. masseter c. anterior digastric d. palatoglossus

Answer 33

a. styloglossus also genioglossus and hyoglossus palatoglossus= vagus masseter and anterior digastric= trigeminal

Question 34

the geniculate ganglion is the sensory ganglion of the _____ nerve. a. facial b. vagus c. hypoglossal d. glossopharyngeal

Answer 34

a. facial sensory for taste greater petrosal nerve motor fibers emerge from this ganglion the geniculate ganglion sends fibers that will innervate the lacrimal glands, submandibular glands, sublingual glands, tongue, palate, pharynx, external auditory meatus, stapedius, posterior belly of the digastric muscle, stylohyoid muscle, and muscles of facial expression.

Question 35

which splanchnic nerve transmits sympathetic innervation to the stomach? a. pelvic b. lumbar c. lowest d. greater

Answer 35

d. greater greater thoracic splanchnic nerves innervate the stomach

Question 36

Cutaneous sensation to the lateral aspect of the arm over the deltoid is supplied by which nerve root? a. C3 b. C5 c. C7 d. C8

Answer 36

b. C5

Question 37

which of these dermatomes is located on the lateral aspect of the foot? a. L3 b. L4 c. L5 d. S1

Answer 37

d. S1 S1 dermatome= back of knee, posterior leg, bottom of foot, lateral side of foot, lateral ankle

Question 38

bundles of nerve fibers are surrounded by the ____. a. perimysium b. endoneurium c. perineurium d. epimysium

Answer 38

c. perineurium each axon is surrounded by endoneurium, a bundle of fiber called fascicles is surrounded by perineurium and the entire nerve is surrounded by epineurium

Question 39

what structure drains aqueous humor from the eye? a. anterior chamber b. ciliary process c. ora serrata d. canal of schlem

Answer 39

a. anterior chamber Aqueous humor is secreted into the posterior chamber by the ciliary body, through the pupil into the anterior chamber where it drains from the eye via trabecular meshwork

Question 40

the osseous labyrinth of the ear consists of the cochlea, semicircular canals and the _____. a. stapedius b. tympanic membrane c. vestibule d. internal acoustic meatus

Answer 40

c. vestibule osseous labyrinth= bony labyrinth; bony outer wall in the inner ear of the temporal bone

Question 41

the cell bodies of the gustatory fibers from the anterior 2/3 of the tongue are located in the ___ ganglion. a. pterygopalatine b. dorsal root c. geniculate d. superior vagal

Answer 41

c. geniculate

Question 42

which of these structures produces aqueous humor? a. ciliary epithelium b. ependymal cells c. choroid plexus d. macula lutea

Answer 42

a. ciliary epithelium