MSW EXAM 2025 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
A 45-year-old woman is being examined as a candidate for cosmetic breast surgery.
The surgeon notes that both of her breasts sag considerably. Which structure has
most likely become stretched to result in this condition? - ✔✔Suspensory (Coopers)
ligaments
The suspensory ligaments of the breast, also known as Coopers ligaments, are
fibrous bands that run from the dermis of the skin to the deep layer of superficial
fascia and are primary supports for the breasts against gravity. Ptosis of the breast is
usually due to the stretching of these ligaments and can be repaired with plastic
surgery. Scarpas fascia is the deep membranous layer of superficial fascia of the
anterior abdominal wall. The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor are muscles that
move the upper limb and lie deep to the breast but do not provide any direct
support structure to the breast. The serratus anterior muscle is involved in the
movements of the scapula.
A 27-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after an automobile
collision in which he suffered a fracture of the lateral border of the scapula. Six
weeks after the accident, physical examination reveals weakness in medial rotation
and adduction of the humerus. Which nerve was most likely injured? - ✔✔Lower
subscapular
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Lower subscapular nerves arise from the cervical spinal nerves 5 and 6. It innervates
the subscapularis and teres major muscles. The subscapularis and teres major are
both responsible for adducting and medially rotating the arm. A lesion of this nerve
would result in weakness in these motions. The axillary nerve also arises from
cervical spinal nerves 5 and 6 and innervates the deltoid and teres minor muscles.
The deltoid muscle is large and covers the entire surface of the shoulder, and
contributes to arm movement in any plane. The teres minor is a lateral rotator and a
member of the rotator cuff group of muscles. The radial nerve arises from the
posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It is the largest branch, and it innervates the
triceps brachii and anconeus in the arm. The spinal accessory nerve is cranial nerve
XI, and it innervates the trapezius muscle, which elevates and depresses the scapula.
The ulnar nerve arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and runs down
the medial aspect of the arm. It innervates muscles of the forearm and hand.
A 48-year-old female court stenographer is admitted to the orthopedic clinic with
symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, with which she has suffered for almost a year.
Which muscles most typically become weakened in this condition? - ✔✔Thenar
The thenar muscles (and lumbricals I and II) are innervated by the median nerve,
which runs through the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed anteriorly by the
flexor retinaculum and posteriorly by the carpal bones. Carpal tunnel syndrome is
caused by a compression of the median nerve, due to reduced space in the carpal
tunnel. The carpal tunnel contains the tendons of flexor pollicis longus, flexor
digitorum profundus, and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles. The dorsal
interossei, lumbricals III and IV, palmar interossei, and hypothenar muscles are all
innervated by the ulnar nerve.
A 45-year-old male arrived at the emergency department with injuries to his left
elbow after he fell in a bicycle race. Radiographic and MRI examinations show a
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,fracture of the medial epicondyle and a torn ulnar nerve. Which of the following
muscles would be most likely to be paralyzed? - ✔✔Flexor carpi ulnaris
Fracture of the medial epicondyle often causes damage to the ulnar nerve due to its
position in the groove behind the epicondyle. The ulnar nerve innervates one and a
half muscles in the forearmthe flexor carpi ulnaris and the medial half of the flexor
digitorum profundus. The nerve continues on to innervate muscles in the hand. The
flexor digitorum superficialis is innervated by the median nerve and the biceps
brachii by the musculocutaneous. The radial nerve innervates both the
brachioradialis and supinator muscles.
While walking to his classroom building, a first-year medical student slipped on the
wet pavement and fell against the curb, injuring his right arm. Radiographic images
showed a midshaft fracture of the humerus. Which pair of structures was most likely
injured at the fracture site? - ✔✔Radial nerve and deep brachial artery
A midshaft humeral fracture can result in injury to the radial nerve and deep
brachial artery because they lie in the spiral groove located in the midshaft. Injury to
the median nerve and brachial artery can be caused by a supracondylar fracture that
occurs by falling on an outstretched hand and partially flexed elbow. A fracture of
the surgical neck of the humerus can injure the axillary nerve and posterior humeral
circumflex artery. The suprascapular artery and nerve can be injured in a shoulder
dislocation. The long thoracic nerve and lateral thoracic artery may be damaged
during a mastectomy procedure.
An 18-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after an injury while
playing
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, rugby. Imaging reveals a transverse fracture of the humerus about 1 inch proximal to
the epicondyles. Which nerve is most frequently injured by the jagged edges of the
broken bone at this location? - ✔✔Median
A supracondylar fracture often results in injury to the median nerve. The course of
the median nerve is anterolateral, and at the elbow it lies medial to the brachial
artery on the brachialis muscle. The axillary nerve passes posteriorly through the
quadrangular space, accompanied by the posterior circumflex humeral artery, and
winds around the surgical neck of the humerus. Injury to the surgical neck may
damage the axillary nerve. The musculocutaneous nerve pierces the coracobrachialis
muscle and descends between the biceps and brachialis muscle. It continues into the
forearm as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. The ulnar nerve descends
behind the medial epicondyle in its groove and is easily injured and produces funny
bone symptoms.
A 52-year-old band director suffered problems in her right arm several days after
strenuous field exercises for a major athletic tournament. Examination in the
orthopedic clinic reveals wrist drop and weakness of grasp but normal extension of
the elbow joint. There is no loss of sensation in the affected limb. Which nerve was
most likely affected? - ✔✔Posterior interosseous
The radial nerve descends posteriorly between the long and lateral heads of the
triceps and passes inferolaterally on the back of the humerus between the medial
and lateral heads of the triceps. It eventually enters the anterior compartment and
descends to enter the cubital fossa, where it divides into superficial and deep
branches. The deep branch of the radial nerve winds laterally around the radius and
runs between the two heads of the supinator and continues as the posterior
interosseous nerve, innervating extensor muscles of the forearm. Because this injury
does not result in loss of sensation over the skin of the upper limb, it is likely that the
superficial branch of the radial nerve is not injured. If the radial nerve were injured
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
AND ANSWERS 100% PASS
A 45-year-old woman is being examined as a candidate for cosmetic breast surgery.
The surgeon notes that both of her breasts sag considerably. Which structure has
most likely become stretched to result in this condition? - ✔✔Suspensory (Coopers)
ligaments
The suspensory ligaments of the breast, also known as Coopers ligaments, are
fibrous bands that run from the dermis of the skin to the deep layer of superficial
fascia and are primary supports for the breasts against gravity. Ptosis of the breast is
usually due to the stretching of these ligaments and can be repaired with plastic
surgery. Scarpas fascia is the deep membranous layer of superficial fascia of the
anterior abdominal wall. The pectoralis major and pectoralis minor are muscles that
move the upper limb and lie deep to the breast but do not provide any direct
support structure to the breast. The serratus anterior muscle is involved in the
movements of the scapula.
A 27-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department after an automobile
collision in which he suffered a fracture of the lateral border of the scapula. Six
weeks after the accident, physical examination reveals weakness in medial rotation
and adduction of the humerus. Which nerve was most likely injured? - ✔✔Lower
subscapular
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,Lower subscapular nerves arise from the cervical spinal nerves 5 and 6. It innervates
the subscapularis and teres major muscles. The subscapularis and teres major are
both responsible for adducting and medially rotating the arm. A lesion of this nerve
would result in weakness in these motions. The axillary nerve also arises from
cervical spinal nerves 5 and 6 and innervates the deltoid and teres minor muscles.
The deltoid muscle is large and covers the entire surface of the shoulder, and
contributes to arm movement in any plane. The teres minor is a lateral rotator and a
member of the rotator cuff group of muscles. The radial nerve arises from the
posterior cord of the brachial plexus. It is the largest branch, and it innervates the
triceps brachii and anconeus in the arm. The spinal accessory nerve is cranial nerve
XI, and it innervates the trapezius muscle, which elevates and depresses the scapula.
The ulnar nerve arises from the medial cord of the brachial plexus and runs down
the medial aspect of the arm. It innervates muscles of the forearm and hand.
A 48-year-old female court stenographer is admitted to the orthopedic clinic with
symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, with which she has suffered for almost a year.
Which muscles most typically become weakened in this condition? - ✔✔Thenar
The thenar muscles (and lumbricals I and II) are innervated by the median nerve,
which runs through the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is formed anteriorly by the
flexor retinaculum and posteriorly by the carpal bones. Carpal tunnel syndrome is
caused by a compression of the median nerve, due to reduced space in the carpal
tunnel. The carpal tunnel contains the tendons of flexor pollicis longus, flexor
digitorum profundus, and flexor digitorum superficialis muscles. The dorsal
interossei, lumbricals III and IV, palmar interossei, and hypothenar muscles are all
innervated by the ulnar nerve.
A 45-year-old male arrived at the emergency department with injuries to his left
elbow after he fell in a bicycle race. Radiographic and MRI examinations show a
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,fracture of the medial epicondyle and a torn ulnar nerve. Which of the following
muscles would be most likely to be paralyzed? - ✔✔Flexor carpi ulnaris
Fracture of the medial epicondyle often causes damage to the ulnar nerve due to its
position in the groove behind the epicondyle. The ulnar nerve innervates one and a
half muscles in the forearmthe flexor carpi ulnaris and the medial half of the flexor
digitorum profundus. The nerve continues on to innervate muscles in the hand. The
flexor digitorum superficialis is innervated by the median nerve and the biceps
brachii by the musculocutaneous. The radial nerve innervates both the
brachioradialis and supinator muscles.
While walking to his classroom building, a first-year medical student slipped on the
wet pavement and fell against the curb, injuring his right arm. Radiographic images
showed a midshaft fracture of the humerus. Which pair of structures was most likely
injured at the fracture site? - ✔✔Radial nerve and deep brachial artery
A midshaft humeral fracture can result in injury to the radial nerve and deep
brachial artery because they lie in the spiral groove located in the midshaft. Injury to
the median nerve and brachial artery can be caused by a supracondylar fracture that
occurs by falling on an outstretched hand and partially flexed elbow. A fracture of
the surgical neck of the humerus can injure the axillary nerve and posterior humeral
circumflex artery. The suprascapular artery and nerve can be injured in a shoulder
dislocation. The long thoracic nerve and lateral thoracic artery may be damaged
during a mastectomy procedure.
An 18-year-old male is brought to the emergency department after an injury while
playing
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, rugby. Imaging reveals a transverse fracture of the humerus about 1 inch proximal to
the epicondyles. Which nerve is most frequently injured by the jagged edges of the
broken bone at this location? - ✔✔Median
A supracondylar fracture often results in injury to the median nerve. The course of
the median nerve is anterolateral, and at the elbow it lies medial to the brachial
artery on the brachialis muscle. The axillary nerve passes posteriorly through the
quadrangular space, accompanied by the posterior circumflex humeral artery, and
winds around the surgical neck of the humerus. Injury to the surgical neck may
damage the axillary nerve. The musculocutaneous nerve pierces the coracobrachialis
muscle and descends between the biceps and brachialis muscle. It continues into the
forearm as the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve. The ulnar nerve descends
behind the medial epicondyle in its groove and is easily injured and produces funny
bone symptoms.
A 52-year-old band director suffered problems in her right arm several days after
strenuous field exercises for a major athletic tournament. Examination in the
orthopedic clinic reveals wrist drop and weakness of grasp but normal extension of
the elbow joint. There is no loss of sensation in the affected limb. Which nerve was
most likely affected? - ✔✔Posterior interosseous
The radial nerve descends posteriorly between the long and lateral heads of the
triceps and passes inferolaterally on the back of the humerus between the medial
and lateral heads of the triceps. It eventually enters the anterior compartment and
descends to enter the cubital fossa, where it divides into superficial and deep
branches. The deep branch of the radial nerve winds laterally around the radius and
runs between the two heads of the supinator and continues as the posterior
interosseous nerve, innervating extensor muscles of the forearm. Because this injury
does not result in loss of sensation over the skin of the upper limb, it is likely that the
superficial branch of the radial nerve is not injured. If the radial nerve were injured
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY SOPHIA BENNETT, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
