MSK REVIEW – COMLEX | COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS &
EXAM PREP 2026/2027
McMurry sign - ✔✔Testing meniscus injury
Internal rotation of tibia--> testing for lateral meniscus
External rotation of tibia--> testing for medial meniscus
What is a bursa? - ✔✔Synovial lined sac
provides cushion between bones
What is prepatellar bursitis? - ✔✔inflammation of patella bursa
caused by kneeling
anterior swelling and warmth
Where are baker's cysts located? - ✔✔behind the knee
between gastroc and semimembran. tendons
Baker's cysts are common in which type of pts? - ✔✔pts with RA (inflammatory)
Primary ossification start where? - ✔✔Diaphysis (before birth)
Secondary ossification starts where? - ✔✔epiphysis (after birth)
,Where does the patellar tendon insert? - ✔✔on the tibial tubercle
Which motion is painful to do when you have a patellar fracture? - ✔✔extension of knee
against gravity (loss of knee extension)
quads tendon is not able to properly transmit force
Attachment of PCL - ✔✔Medial femoral condyle, posterior aspect of tibia
Attachment of ACL - ✔✔Lateral femoral condyle, anterior aspect of tibia
What is IT band syndrome? - ✔✔over use injury involving the lateral knee where IT band
crosses the lateral femoral epicondyle
What symptoms do you get from IT band syndrome? - ✔✔friction between IT band and lateral
femoral epicondyle
What is osgood schlatter disease? - ✔✔strain of the tibial tubercle due to contraction of the
quads muscle
secondary ossification
What is medial tibial stress syndrome aka shin splints? - ✔✔diffuse pain along anterior part of
the tibia (aka the shin bone)
there would be more bone resorption then bone formation
, How do you know if a pt has compartment syndrome? - ✔✔pain out of proportion to findings
pain with passive stretching
Supraspinatus can abduct the arm up to.... - ✔✔0-15 degrees
Innervation of supraspinatus and infraspinatus - ✔✔suprascapular nerve
What can the empty and full can test show? - ✔✔supraspinatus injury
Infraspinatus action - ✔✔abduction
external rotation
Infraspinatus injuries often seen in... - ✔✔pitchers
Teres minor actions - ✔✔adduction
external rotation
Subscap actions - ✔✔internal rotation of shoulder/arm
Subscapularis innervation - ✔✔u/l subscapular nerves
Which muscle abducts the shoulder only up to 90 degrees? - ✔✔deltoid
which muscles abducts the muscle above 90 degrees? - ✔✔Traps/ serratus anterior
EXAM PREP 2026/2027
McMurry sign - ✔✔Testing meniscus injury
Internal rotation of tibia--> testing for lateral meniscus
External rotation of tibia--> testing for medial meniscus
What is a bursa? - ✔✔Synovial lined sac
provides cushion between bones
What is prepatellar bursitis? - ✔✔inflammation of patella bursa
caused by kneeling
anterior swelling and warmth
Where are baker's cysts located? - ✔✔behind the knee
between gastroc and semimembran. tendons
Baker's cysts are common in which type of pts? - ✔✔pts with RA (inflammatory)
Primary ossification start where? - ✔✔Diaphysis (before birth)
Secondary ossification starts where? - ✔✔epiphysis (after birth)
,Where does the patellar tendon insert? - ✔✔on the tibial tubercle
Which motion is painful to do when you have a patellar fracture? - ✔✔extension of knee
against gravity (loss of knee extension)
quads tendon is not able to properly transmit force
Attachment of PCL - ✔✔Medial femoral condyle, posterior aspect of tibia
Attachment of ACL - ✔✔Lateral femoral condyle, anterior aspect of tibia
What is IT band syndrome? - ✔✔over use injury involving the lateral knee where IT band
crosses the lateral femoral epicondyle
What symptoms do you get from IT band syndrome? - ✔✔friction between IT band and lateral
femoral epicondyle
What is osgood schlatter disease? - ✔✔strain of the tibial tubercle due to contraction of the
quads muscle
secondary ossification
What is medial tibial stress syndrome aka shin splints? - ✔✔diffuse pain along anterior part of
the tibia (aka the shin bone)
there would be more bone resorption then bone formation
, How do you know if a pt has compartment syndrome? - ✔✔pain out of proportion to findings
pain with passive stretching
Supraspinatus can abduct the arm up to.... - ✔✔0-15 degrees
Innervation of supraspinatus and infraspinatus - ✔✔suprascapular nerve
What can the empty and full can test show? - ✔✔supraspinatus injury
Infraspinatus action - ✔✔abduction
external rotation
Infraspinatus injuries often seen in... - ✔✔pitchers
Teres minor actions - ✔✔adduction
external rotation
Subscap actions - ✔✔internal rotation of shoulder/arm
Subscapularis innervation - ✔✔u/l subscapular nerves
Which muscle abducts the shoulder only up to 90 degrees? - ✔✔deltoid
which muscles abducts the muscle above 90 degrees? - ✔✔Traps/ serratus anterior
