NBME Anatomy concepts -practice
questions with correct answers
at what vertebral level(s) should you perform a lumbar puncture ? -
🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔L3/L4 or L4/L5; level of the iliac
crests
when doing a lumbar puncture, what does your needle pierce
through - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔skin --> fascia -->
supraspinous ligament --> interspinous ligament --> ligamentum
flavum --> epidural space --> dura mater --> subarachnoid space
What is a herniated disc? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔nucleus
pulposus through anulus fibrosus (nucleus pulposus is remnant of
notochord)
-usually herniates postero-laterally
-compresses spinal nerve root
most common levels of herniated disc - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
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,✔✔Lumbar Levels= L4/L5 or L5/S1
cervical regions= C5/C6 or C6/C7
herniated disk presentation - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
individuals <50
-history of back pain that may radiate down to the lower limb
-pain begins soon after patient lifted something heavy
-herniated lumbar disc compresses the nerve root one number
below (L4/L5 will compress the L5 root)
-lower limb reflexes are decreased on the affected side
-patellar --> L2/L3 or L3/L4 herniation
-achilles --> L5/S1 herniation
what is kyphosis ?
who is it seen in? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-exaggeration of
the thoracic curvature
-may occur in the elderly as a result of osteoporosis or disk
degeneration
-osteoporosis= multiple compression fractures of the vertebral
bodies
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,what is lordosis?
who is it seen in? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-exaggeration of
the lumbar curvature that may be temporary
-occurs during pregnancy, spondylolisthesis, or potbelly
what is scoliosis?
causes? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-lateral deviation/torsion of
the spine
-caused by poliomyelitis, leg length discrepancy, or hip disease
what is the pars interarticularis - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔connects the superior facet and inferior facet
what is spondylolysis?
presentation? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-defect/stress fracture
in the pars interarticularis
-most common reason for lower back pain in adolescent athletes
-usually at L5
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, what is spondylolisthesis?
presentation? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-forward slippage of
one vertebral body with respect to the one beneath it
-most commonly occurs at lumbosacral junction with L5 slipping
over S1
-low back pain aggravated by standing and walking
-rarely can cause cauda equina
-often results from spondylolysis
low back pain with extension or standing, relief with flexion - 🔰
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔spinal canal stenosis
positional pain, relieved with rest and analgesics, lumbar or
cervical spine - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔osteoarthritis/degenerative
low back pain with paravertebral spasm after history of lifting a
heavy object - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔lumbosacral strain
low back pain in elderly which is exacerbated on minor exertion or
touch - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔vertebral body fracture-- due
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questions with correct answers
at what vertebral level(s) should you perform a lumbar puncture ? -
🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔L3/L4 or L4/L5; level of the iliac
crests
when doing a lumbar puncture, what does your needle pierce
through - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔skin --> fascia -->
supraspinous ligament --> interspinous ligament --> ligamentum
flavum --> epidural space --> dura mater --> subarachnoid space
What is a herniated disc? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔nucleus
pulposus through anulus fibrosus (nucleus pulposus is remnant of
notochord)
-usually herniates postero-laterally
-compresses spinal nerve root
most common levels of herniated disc - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
1 \\\\\\/ \\\\\\
86
,✔✔Lumbar Levels= L4/L5 or L5/S1
cervical regions= C5/C6 or C6/C7
herniated disk presentation - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
individuals <50
-history of back pain that may radiate down to the lower limb
-pain begins soon after patient lifted something heavy
-herniated lumbar disc compresses the nerve root one number
below (L4/L5 will compress the L5 root)
-lower limb reflexes are decreased on the affected side
-patellar --> L2/L3 or L3/L4 herniation
-achilles --> L5/S1 herniation
what is kyphosis ?
who is it seen in? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-exaggeration of
the thoracic curvature
-may occur in the elderly as a result of osteoporosis or disk
degeneration
-osteoporosis= multiple compression fractures of the vertebral
bodies
2 \\\\\\/ \\\\\\
86
,what is lordosis?
who is it seen in? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-exaggeration of
the lumbar curvature that may be temporary
-occurs during pregnancy, spondylolisthesis, or potbelly
what is scoliosis?
causes? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-lateral deviation/torsion of
the spine
-caused by poliomyelitis, leg length discrepancy, or hip disease
what is the pars interarticularis - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔connects the superior facet and inferior facet
what is spondylolysis?
presentation? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-defect/stress fracture
in the pars interarticularis
-most common reason for lower back pain in adolescent athletes
-usually at L5
3 \\\\\\/ \\\\\\
86
, what is spondylolisthesis?
presentation? - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-forward slippage of
one vertebral body with respect to the one beneath it
-most commonly occurs at lumbosacral junction with L5 slipping
over S1
-low back pain aggravated by standing and walking
-rarely can cause cauda equina
-often results from spondylolysis
low back pain with extension or standing, relief with flexion - 🔰
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔spinal canal stenosis
positional pain, relieved with rest and analgesics, lumbar or
cervical spine - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔osteoarthritis/degenerative
low back pain with paravertebral spasm after history of lifting a
heavy object - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔lumbosacral strain
low back pain in elderly which is exacerbated on minor exertion or
touch - 🔰CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔vertebral body fracture-- due
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