This practice set contains high-yield board review questions covering key concepts in Surgical Anatomy & Approaches. Each clinical scenario is designed to test your diagnostic and management skills relevant to this subspecialty.
Question 681
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
A surgeon performs a direct anterior approach (Smith-Petersen) for a total hip arthroplasty. The superficial internervous plane is between the sartorius and tensor fasciae latae. What is the deep internervous plane?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Rectus femoris and gluteus medius
Explanation
The deep internervous plane in the direct anterior approach to the hip is between the rectus femoris (femoral nerve) and the gluteus medius (superior gluteal nerve).
Question 682
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
A 45-year-old male undergoes arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. During portal placement, the surgeon places a portal 5 cm distal to the lateral edge of the acromion. Which nerve is most at risk?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Axillary nerve
Explanation
The axillary nerve courses circumferentially around the surgical neck of the humerus, approximately 5 cm distal to the lateral acromial edge. Portals placed too distally risk transecting its branches.
Question 683
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
The corona mortis is an anastomotic vascular connection at risk during the ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum. It connects which two vessel systems?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. External iliac and obturator
Explanation
The corona mortis is a vascular anastomosis between the external iliac (or inferior epigastric) system and the obturator system. It crosses the superior pubic ramus and is highly vulnerable during pelvic trauma and anterior surgical approaches.
Question 684
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
A 30-year-old male sustains a Monteggia fracture-dislocation. During surgical fixation via a posterior (Boyd) approach, the surgeon elevates the supinator off the proximal radius. Which nerve lies within the substance of the supinator and is at risk?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Posterior interosseous nerve
Explanation
The posterior interosseous nerve (PIN), a branch of the radial nerve, passes between the superficial and deep heads of the supinator muscle. It is at significant risk during posterior and lateral approaches to the proximal radius.
Question 685
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
In the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder, the cephalic vein is typically identified and retracted laterally. This interval marks the internervous plane between which two nerves?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Axillary nerve and lateral pectoral nerve
Explanation
The deltopectoral interval lies between the deltoid (innervated by the axillary nerve) and the pectoralis major (innervated by the medial and lateral pectoral nerves). Therefore, the plane is between the axillary and lateral pectoral nerves.
Question 686
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
The posterolateral approach to the femur utilizes the internervous plane between the vastus lateralis and the biceps femoris. What is the innervation of these two muscles, respectively?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Femoral nerve and sciatic nerve
Explanation
The vastus lateralis is innervated by the femoral nerve, while the biceps femoris is innervated by the sciatic nerve (the long head by the tibial division, and the short head by the common peroneal division).
Question 687
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
A patient presents with weakness in shoulder abduction and external rotation following a posterior shoulder dislocation. The nerve injured passes through a space bordered by which of the following sets of structures?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Teres minor, teres major, long head of triceps, surgical neck of humerus
Explanation
The axillary nerve passes through the quadrangular space. The borders of this space are the teres minor (superior), teres major (inferior), long head of the triceps (medial), and surgical neck of the humerus (lateral).
Question 688
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
The volar (Henry) approach to the proximal radius utilizes an internervous plane between which two muscles?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Brachioradialis and pronator teres
Explanation
The proximal internervous plane for the anterior (Henry) approach to the radius lies between the brachioradialis (innervated by the radial nerve) and the pronator teres (innervated by the median nerve).
Question 689
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During an ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum, the surgeon must identify and ligate the "corona mortis" to prevent massive hemorrhage. This structure is an anastomosis between the:
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Obturator vessels and external iliac or inferior epigastric vessels
Explanation
The corona mortis is a critical vascular anastomosis between the obturator vessels and the inferior epigastric or external iliac vessels. It is typically located on the posterior aspect of the superior pubic ramus.
Question 690
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During a posterolateral approach to the hip (Kocher-Langenbeck), the piriformis tendon is identified. What nerve exits the sciatic notch immediately superior to the piriformis?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Superior gluteal nerve
Explanation
The superior gluteal nerve exits the greater sciatic foramen superior to the piriformis muscle. The sciatic, inferior gluteal, and pudendal nerves exit inferior to the piriformis.
Question 691
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
In the standard volar (Henry) approach to the distal radius, the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is retracted. Between which two tendons is the deep dissection carried out?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. FCR and brachioradialis
Explanation
The distal Henry approach exploits the interval between the brachioradialis (radially) and the FCR (ulnarly). The radial artery is mobilized carefully to access the pronator quadratus.
Question 692
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
A patient sustains a mid-shaft humerus fracture. The radial nerve is at risk as it passes through the intermuscular septum. At what approximate distance from the lateral epicondyle does the radial nerve pierce the lateral intermuscular septum?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. 10 cm
Explanation
The radial nerve pierces the lateral intermuscular septum from posterior to anterior approximately 10 cm proximal to the lateral epicondyle.
Question 693
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During an anterior (Smith-Petersen) approach to the hip, the superficial interval is created. Which two muscles define this interval?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Sartorius and tensor fasciae latae
Explanation
The superficial interval of the Smith-Petersen approach is between the sartorius (femoral nerve) and the tensor fasciae latae (superior gluteal nerve).
Question 694
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During an open posterior approach to the shoulder, the axillary nerve is at risk as it exits the quadrangular space. What forms the superior boundary of this space?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Teres minor
Explanation
The quadrangular space is bounded superiorly by the teres minor, inferiorly by the teres major, medially by the long head of the triceps, and laterally by the surgical neck of the humerus. The axillary nerve and posterior circumflex humeral artery exit the axilla through this space.
Question 695
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During the ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum, significant hemorrhage occurs while dissecting near the superior pubic ramus. This is most likely due to an injury to the corona mortis, which represents an anastomosis between the obturator vessels and which of the following?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. External iliac or inferior epigastric vessels
Explanation
The corona mortis ('crown of death') is a critical vascular connection between the obturator vessels and the external iliac or inferior epigastric vessels. It is located posterior to the superior pubic ramus at a distance of roughly 4-9 cm from the pubic symphysis.
Question 696
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
The volar (Henry) approach to the proximal radius exposes the bone while navigating between muscle intervals. To safely protect the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) during proximal exposure, the forearm should be placed in which position?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Maximal supination
Explanation
Maximal supination moves the insertion of the supinator muscle anteriorly and wraps the PIN laterally, away from the surgical field. This maneuver safely displaces the nerve during the proximal Henry approach.
Question 697
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During the deltopectoral approach to the shoulder, the conjoined tendon is often retracted to gain exposure. How far distal to the tip of the coracoid process does the musculocutaneous nerve typically enter the coracobrachialis muscle?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. 5 to 8 cm
Explanation
The musculocutaneous nerve typically enters the coracobrachialis 5 to 8 cm distal to the coracoid process. Retractors placed below the conjoined tendon must be carefully positioned to avoid compression or traction injury to this nerve.
Question 698
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
During a posterior (Kocher-Langenbeck) approach to the acetabulum, the quadratus femoris muscle is carefully preserved or only partially released. This is primarily to protect which of the following structures?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Medial femoral circumflex artery
Explanation
The medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) provides the primary blood supply to the femoral head and runs closely related to the superior border of the quadratus femoris. Protecting the quadratus femoris or leaving a stable cuff minimizes the risk of iatrogenic injury to the MFCA.
Question 699
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
When performing a lateral transpsoas approach to the lumbar spine (LLIF), a surgeon must navigate the lumbar plexus safely. Which nerve lies directly on the anterior surface of the psoas major muscle?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. Genitofemoral nerve
Explanation
The genitofemoral nerve pierces the anterior surface of the psoas major muscle and runs longitudinally down its anterior aspect. It is at significant risk of iatrogenic injury during anterior and lateral approaches to the lumbar spine.
Question 700
Topic: Surgical Anatomy & Approaches
In an anterior pelvic approach (ilioinguinal), a vascular anastomosis known as the 'corona mortis' may be encountered. This structure typically connects the obturator vessels with which of the following?
Correct Answer & Explanation
. External iliac or deep inferior epigastric vessels
Explanation
The corona mortis is an arterial or venous anastomosis between the obturator vessels and the external iliac or deep inferior epigastric vessels. It lies on the posterior aspect of the superior pubic ramus and can cause catastrophic bleeding if inadvertently disrupted.
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