AAOS & ABOS Anatomy MCQs (Set 2): Musculoskeletal, Neuro, & Regional Topography for Board Review

Figure 14 shows a lateral radiograph of a knee joint. The bony structure indicated by the arrow is a sesamoid bone that resides in what tendon?

Talar compression syndrome in ballet dancers typically involves injury to which of the following structures?

The sartorius muscle is innervated by which of the following nerves?

Pacinian corpuscles are lamellated nerve endings that are responsible for providing the perception of

An elite gymnast injured her ankle in an awkward dismount 36 hours ago. Examination reveals weakness on single leg step-up. A clinical photograph of the medial ankle is shown in Figure 15. Plain radiographs are normal. To help confirm the diagnosis, the next step in evaluation should consist of

Figure 16 shows an axial MRI scan through the knee joint. What structure is identified by the arrow?

Which of the following nerves is most commonly injured when obtaining a bone graft from the posterior ilium?

Based on the findings seen in the posteroanterior radiograph of the wrist shown in Figure 17, which of the following structures is torn?

What tendon has an intra-articular (instrasynovial) location in the knee joint?

A patient undergoes hip arthroscopy, and the pathology is seen in Figure 18. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Figure 19 shows an arthroscopic view from the anterior lateral portal of the knee looking into the suprapatella pouch. The use of an electrothermal device during this procedure most commonly causes significant postoperative complications by damaging which of the following structures?

Figure 20 shows the resting and stress radiographs of a patient who has had pain and feelings of instability after undergoing a total knee arthroplasty 1 year ago. Which of the following ligaments is not functional and is therefore responsible for the patient's symptoms?

On MRI, a nonsanguinous effusion has what appearance?

Which of the following illustrations shown in Figures 21a through 21e correctly shows the projection of the sacroiliac joint on the outer table of the ilium?

In children between the ages of 4 and 8 years, the major blood supply to the femoral head comes from the

What is the most anatomic location for placement of the femoral tunnel in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction?

In the anterior approach (Smith-Petersen) to the hip, dissection is carried out between muscles innervated by the

What structure is marked Q in the diagram of the brachial plexus shown in Figure 22?

A sagittal T1-weighted MRI scan of the knee joint is shown in Figure 23. What structure is identified by the arrow?

Figure 24 shows the arthroscopic view of a patient with ankle impingement syndrome. This is commonly seen after high ankle sprains and represents fibrotic granulation thickening of what structure?

The modified Brostrom lateral ankle ligamentous reconstruction uses which of the following structures to provide supplementary stabilization?

Figure 25 shows an arthroscopic thermal capsular shrinkage device being used in the anterior inferior quadrant of a patient with a subluxating shoulder. Which of the following neurologic complications is most frequently reported with this technique?

A coronal MRI scan through the shoulder joint is shown in Figure 26. The cyst indicated by the arrow will most likely cause compression of what nerve?

Which of the following ligaments is most commonly involved in posterolateral rotatory instability of the elbow?

Which of the following anatomic structures is labeled 6 in Figure 27?

During a deltopectoral approach to the shoulder, the cephalic vein is identified. Which of the following is the most appropriate management of the cephalic vein to preserve its primary venous drainage?

A patient sustains a midshaft humerus fracture. Which of the following structures is at greatest risk of injury as it passes through the lateral intermuscular septum?

In the anterior approach to the hip (Smith-Petersen), the internervous plane is between muscles supplied by which two nerves?

During an open reduction and internal fixation of a distal radius fracture via a volar approach (Henry), the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) is retracted medially. The surgeon must be careful to avoid injury to which of the following structures immediately ulnar to the FCR tendon?

The Martin-Gruber anastomosis most commonly involves a transfer of motor nerve fibers from the:

Which of the following structures forms the roof of the cubital tunnel?

During a posterolateral approach to the tibia, the surgeon develops a plane between the lateral and superficial posterior compartments. Which nerve is at risk if dissection strays too far anteriorly into the lateral compartment?

A 45-year-old male presents with weakness in thumb extension and index finger extension following a radial head fracture. Sensation in the first web space is normal. Compression of the involved nerve most commonly occurs at which of the following structures?

The medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) provides the primary blood supply to the adult femoral head. Which of the following muscles must be protected during a posterior approach to the hip to avoid injury to the deep branch of the MFCA?

A surgeon is performing an anterolateral approach to the distal femur. The internervous plane is between the vastus lateralis and the rectus femoris. What is the innervation of these two muscles?

During surgical release of De Quervain's tenosynovitis, the surgeon must identify and protect branches of which of the following nerves to avoid painful neuroma formation?

A patient demonstrates an inability to actively cross their legs (adduct the hip) following pelvic trauma. Which of the following nerves is most likely injured?

During placement of a retrograde intramedullary nail for a femur fracture, the starting point is made in the intercondylar notch. The surgeon must be careful to avoid injuring which of the following ligamentous structures that attaches to the medial aspect of the lateral femoral condyle?

During a lateral approach to the calcaneus for open reduction internal fixation of a calcaneal fracture, the sural nerve is at risk. What is the anatomical course of the sural nerve at the level of the lateral malleolus?

A patient with a displaced surgical neck fracture of the humerus is found to have weakness of the deltoid and loss of sensation over the lateral aspect of the shoulder. Which of the following spaces does the injured nerve pass through to exit the axilla?

The major arterial supply to the talus enters the bone through the tarsal canal. This artery is a branch of which of the following vessels?

During carpal tunnel release surgery, the recurrent motor branch of the median nerve must be avoided. What is the most common anatomical variation of this branch relative to the transverse carpal ligament?

A patient presents with a deep infection of the midpalmar space. The infection is most likely to spread proximally into the forearm via which of the following structures?

During an ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum, the external iliac vessels are mobilized. Which of the following structures is at greatest risk of injury when working in the middle window of this approach?

Which of the following tendons is contained within the third extensor compartment of the wrist?

During a lateral approach to the fibula, the superficial peroneal nerve is at risk of iatrogenic injury. At what approximate location does this nerve typically pierce the crural fascia to become subcutaneous?

A patient presents with winging of the scapula and an inability to elevate the shoulder above 90 degrees following a diagnostic lymph node biopsy in the posterior cervical triangle. Injury to which of the following nerves is the most likely cause?

During an anterior approach to the hip, knowledge of the lumbar plexus is essential. The femoral nerve is formed by which of the following combinations of nerve roots?

Which of the following neurovascular structures pass through the quadrangular space of the shoulder?

The ulnar nerve passes through Guyon's canal at the wrist. Which of the following structures forms the floor of this canal?

A Martin-Gruber anastomosis is a well-documented anatomical variant. This anomaly most commonly involves the transfer of motor fibers from which nerve to which nerve?

The superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) is a primary static stabilizer of the knee. What is the precise location of its distal attachment?

The medial plantar nerve provides motor innervation to a specific subset of intrinsic foot muscles. Which of the following muscles is innervated by the medial plantar nerve?

The proximal pole of the scaphoid is notoriously susceptible to avascular necrosis following fracture. The major blood supply to the proximal pole enters the scaphoid at which anatomical location?

Lanz classified the anatomical variations of the recurrent motor branch of the median nerve. Which of the following is the most common anatomic path of this branch?

During the anterior (Henry) approach to the proximal radius, the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) must be protected. Which muscle is fully supinated to carry the PIN away from the surgical field?

From anterior to posterior, what is the correct sequence of structures passing behind the medial malleolus within the tarsal tunnel?

The upper and lower subscapular nerves provide critical motor innervation to the subscapularis muscle. These nerves originate from which specific portion of the brachial plexus?

Displaced fractures of the talar neck frequently result in osteonecrosis of the talar body due to disruption of its vascular supply. Which artery provides the primary blood supply to the body of the talus?

The sural nerve is frequently harvested for nerve grafts. It is typically formed by the union of the medial sural cutaneous nerve and the sural communicating branch of the lateral sural cutaneous nerve. The lateral sural cutaneous nerve is a direct branch of which nerve?

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is composed of two primary bundles. In which position is the anteromedial (AM) bundle under the greatest tension?

Lister's tubercle serves as a bony fulcrum for a major extensor tendon of the wrist and hand. This tendon resides in which dorsal extensor compartment?

The radial nerve descends in the spiral groove of the humerus. At approximately what distance proximal to the radiocapitellar joint line does the radial nerve pierce the lateral intermuscular septum to enter the anterior compartment?

The pectoralis major muscle has a complex bilaminar insertion onto the lateral lip of the bicipital groove. Which statement correctly describes the distinct anatomy of its sternocostal head insertion?

Which of the following genicular arteries passes anterior to the popliteus muscle and proximal to the head of the fibula, playing a key role in the knee's collateral circulation?

During an ulnar nerve transposition, the medial intermuscular septum is excised to prevent compression of the nerve. What structure is most at risk of injury when excising this septum?

Which two tendons intersect at the Master Knot of Henry in the plantar aspect of the midfoot?

At what cervical level does the vertebral artery typically enter the transverse foramen?

The medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA) provides the primary blood supply to the adult femoral head. Between which two muscles does its deep branch travel to reach the posterior capsule?

Which of the following structures is NOT a border or content of the rotator interval?

The posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) passes between the two heads of which muscle?

In the popliteal fossa, what is the anatomical relationship of the popliteal artery to the popliteal vein and tibial nerve?

What is the most radial structure within the carpal tunnel?

The "corona mortis" is an anomalous vascular anastomosis that is at risk during the ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum. It connects which two vascular systems?

The lumbrical muscles of the hand originate from the tendons of the flexor digitorum profundus. Which nerve typically innervates the first and second lumbricals?

Which of the following structures form the borders of the quadrilateral space in the shoulder?

Approximately how many centimeters proximal to the lateral malleolus does the superficial peroneal nerve pierce the crural fascia to become subcutaneous?

The floor of the cubital tunnel is formed by which of the following structures?

The medial plantar nerve provides motor innervation to which of the following muscles?

Which ligament is considered the primary restraint to anterior translation of the distal fibula relative to the tibia?

The saphenous nerve exits the adductor (Hunter's) canal by piercing which structure?

The posterior cord of the brachial plexus gives rise to all of the following nerves EXCEPT:

During a lateral transpsoas approach to the lumbar spine, which nerve is most at risk of injury when retracting the psoas muscle posteriorly at the L4-L5 disc space?

The suprascapular nerve passes through the suprascapular notch and then the spinoglenoid notch. At the spinoglenoid notch, it is accompanied by which blood vessel?

Which structure passes intra-articularly through a hiatus between the lateral meniscus and the posterolateral joint capsule?

During a posterior approach to the humerus, the radial nerve is at risk as it pierces the lateral intermuscular septum to enter the anterior compartment. On average, what is the distance from the lateral epicondyle to this point of penetration?

Which of the following structures forms the superior border of the quadrilateral space in the shoulder?

A surgeon is performing a standard anterior (Smith-Petersen) approach to the hip. To prevent denervation of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), the dissection should remain superficial to what nerve?

The lumbrical muscles of the hand play a key role in fine motor movements by flexing the metacarpophalangeal joints and extending the interphalangeal joints. Which of the following best describes the typical origin and innervation of the third lumbrical?

To protect the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) during an anterior (Henry) approach to the proximal radius, the forearm should be positioned in what way and why?

The corona mortis is a critical vascular anastomosis that can cause life-threatening hemorrhage during pelvic surgery, particularly during the ilioinguinal approach. It represents a connection between which two vascular systems?

Avascular necrosis of the talus is a well-known complication of talar neck fractures due to its tenuous blood supply. Which structure serves as the primary blood supply to the talar body?

A 35-year-old male sustains a midshaft clavicle fracture. During open reduction and internal fixation, the surgeon must be mindful of the underlying neurovascular structures. Which of the following structures is most closely applied to the posterior-inferior aspect of the middle third of the clavicle?

In the cervical spine, the vertebral artery typically enters the transverse foramen at which vertebral level?

During an open carpal tunnel release, the recurrent motor branch of the median nerve must be avoided. In a standard textbook description (extraligamentous origin), where does this branch typically originate and how does it course?