NBME ANATOMY HY TRAPS & MINI-
VIG EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Median vs Ulnar (hand) - ANS Hook: "Median = LOAF + thenar; Ulnar = interossei + claw."
Median vs Ulnar (hand) Mini-vignette - ANS Numbness lateral 3.5 digits + weak thumb
opposition → Median
Median vs Ulnar (hand) NBME angle - ANS Motor action (opposition vs finger ab/adduction)
beats "numbness only."
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal - ANS Hook: "Tunnel = Median. Guyon = Ulnar."
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal Mini-vignette - ANS Cyclist with tingling medial 1.5 digits, palm
affected → Ulnar (Guyon)
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal NBME angle - ANS Palmar cutaneous branches/sparing
patterns.
Radial vs Axillary - ANS Hook: "Axillary = deltoid; Radial = wrist drop."
Radial vs Axillary Mini-vignette - ANS Surgical neck fracture + loss sensation over deltoid
patch → Axillary
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Radial vs Axillary NBME angle - ANS They'll tempt you with "can't abduct" but you must pick
the nerve/space.
Long Thoracic Nerve - ANS Hook: "Serratus = scapula stays flat."
Long Thoracic Nerve Mini-vignette - ANS Push-up against wall → medial border pops out →
Long thoracic
Long Thoracic Nerve NBME angle - ANS Can't abduct above 90° because scapula can't
upwardly rotate.
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) - ANS Hook: "XI = shrug + turn."
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) Mini-vignette - ANS Posterior triangle surgery → shoulder droop,
weak shrug → CN XI
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) NBME angle - ANS Lymph node biopsy complication.
Femoral vs Obturator - ANS Hook: "Femoral = kick; Obturator = squeeze."
Femoral vs Obturator Mini-vignette - ANS Can't extend knee + ↓ patellar reflex → Femoral
Femoral vs Obturator NBME angle - ANS Reflex clue (patellar = L4 via femoral).
Common Fibular vs Tibial - ANS Hook: "Fibular = dorsiflex/eversion; Tibial =
plantarflex/inversion."
Common Fibular vs Tibial Mini-vignette - ANS Fibular neck fracture → foot drop → Common
fibular
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
VIG EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+ 2025/2026
Median vs Ulnar (hand) - ANS Hook: "Median = LOAF + thenar; Ulnar = interossei + claw."
Median vs Ulnar (hand) Mini-vignette - ANS Numbness lateral 3.5 digits + weak thumb
opposition → Median
Median vs Ulnar (hand) NBME angle - ANS Motor action (opposition vs finger ab/adduction)
beats "numbness only."
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal - ANS Hook: "Tunnel = Median. Guyon = Ulnar."
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal Mini-vignette - ANS Cyclist with tingling medial 1.5 digits, palm
affected → Ulnar (Guyon)
Carpal Tunnel vs Guyon Canal NBME angle - ANS Palmar cutaneous branches/sparing
patterns.
Radial vs Axillary - ANS Hook: "Axillary = deltoid; Radial = wrist drop."
Radial vs Axillary Mini-vignette - ANS Surgical neck fracture + loss sensation over deltoid
patch → Axillary
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Radial vs Axillary NBME angle - ANS They'll tempt you with "can't abduct" but you must pick
the nerve/space.
Long Thoracic Nerve - ANS Hook: "Serratus = scapula stays flat."
Long Thoracic Nerve Mini-vignette - ANS Push-up against wall → medial border pops out →
Long thoracic
Long Thoracic Nerve NBME angle - ANS Can't abduct above 90° because scapula can't
upwardly rotate.
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) - ANS Hook: "XI = shrug + turn."
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) Mini-vignette - ANS Posterior triangle surgery → shoulder droop,
weak shrug → CN XI
Spinal Accessory (CN XI) NBME angle - ANS Lymph node biopsy complication.
Femoral vs Obturator - ANS Hook: "Femoral = kick; Obturator = squeeze."
Femoral vs Obturator Mini-vignette - ANS Can't extend knee + ↓ patellar reflex → Femoral
Femoral vs Obturator NBME angle - ANS Reflex clue (patellar = L4 via femoral).
Common Fibular vs Tibial - ANS Hook: "Fibular = dorsiflex/eversion; Tibial =
plantarflex/inversion."
Common Fibular vs Tibial Mini-vignette - ANS Fibular neck fracture → foot drop → Common
fibular
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
