Upper Limb

Question 1

Name the spinal nerves that make up the brachial plexus.

Answer 1

C5-T1

Question 2

What is the axillary vein a continuation of and when does it become the axillary vein?

Answer 2

The brachial vein.

At the lower border of the teres major muscle.

Question 3

When does the subclavian artery become the axillary artery?

Answer 3

At the lateral border of the first rib.

Question 4

What are the named nerves of the brachial plexus?

Answer 4

Musculocutaneous, Axillary and Radial nerve, Ulnar nerve, Median nerve.

Question 5

What does the posterior (spinal) part of the deltoid muscle do?

Answer 5

Allows extension at the shoulder

Question 6

What does the middle (acromial) part of the deltoid muscle do?

Answer 6

Allows abduction at the shoulder.

Question 7

What does the anterior (clavicular) part of the detloid muscle do?

Answer 7

Allows flexion at the shoulder.

Question 8

What are the different roles of the trapezius?

Answer 8

Elevates, depresses and retracts the scapula.

Question 9

What are the roles of the levator scapulae?

Answer 9

Elevates the scapula and inferiorly rotates the glenoid fossa.

Question 10

Name the rotator cuff muscles.

Answer 10

Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis.

Question 11

Where does the nerve supply of these muscles arise?

Answer 11

From the branches of the brachial plexus.

Question 12

What is ‘painful arc syndrome’?

Answer 12

Impingement of the supraspinatus tendon between the humerus and the acromion process.

Question 13

Which nerve supplies the deltoid and teres minor?

Answer 13

The axillary nerve

Question 14

Which muscle is the only muscle of the posterior compartment of the arm?

Answer 14

Tricpes Brachii

Question 15

Which nerve supplies Triceps Brachii?

Answer 15

The radial nerve

Question 16

What is the “badge patch”?

Answer 16

The area of skin innervated by the axillary nerve.

Question 17

How can the function of the axillary nerve be tested?

Answer 17

By asking the patient to abduct the upper limb beyonf 15 degrees.

Question 18

Name the extrinsic muscles of the shoulder.

Answer 18

Deltoid, trapezium, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi.

Question 19

Which nerve is the flexor digitorum superficialis innervated by?

Answer 19

Median nerve

Question 20

Which nerve is the flexor digitorum profundus innervated by?

Answer 20

Medial half of the ulnar nerve and lateral half of the anterior interosseous nerve.

Question 21

Which nerve is the flexor pollicis longus innervated by?

Answer 21

Anterior interosseous nerve

Question 22

Name the contents of the carpal tunnel.

Answer 22

Flexor digitorum superificialis x 4, flexor digitorum profundus x4, flexor policis longus x1, median nerve.

Question 23

What is adhesive capsulitis (‘frozen shoulder’)?

Answer 23

A disorder characterised by progressive pain and stiffness of the shoulder in patients between 40 and 60 which usually resvolces after 18-24 months.

Question 24

Where would you inject intra-articular injections in frozen shoulder cases?

Answer 24

Gleno-humeral joint.

Question 25

What is acute calcific tendonitis?

Answer 25

Acute onset of severe shoulder pain due to calcium deposition in the supraspinatus tendon.

Question 26

How does tennis elbow occur?

Answer 26

Due to repeated and resisted extension at the wrist.

Question 27

How does golfer’s elbow occur?

Answer 27

Due to repeated strain or degeneration of the common flexor origin.

Question 28

What is cubital tunnel syndrome?

Answer 28

Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow behind the medial epicondyle.

Question 29

Which nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome?

Answer 29

The median nerve.

Question 30

Which digits does cubital tunnel syndrome affect?

Answer 30

The ulnar 1 1/2 digits

Question 31

Which digits does carpal tunnel syndrome affect?

Answer 31

The thumb and radial 2 1/2 digits.

Question 32

What is Dupuytren’s contracture?

Answer 32

A proliferative connective tissue disorder where the specialised palmar fascia under goes hyperplasia with normal fascia bands forming nodules and cords progressing to contractures at the MCP and PIP joints.