USMLE STEP 1 COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
PART I QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | NEW UPDATE
2025
What gland is found in the muscular triangle of the neck? - ANSWER Thyroid
gland
Is an afferent or efferent pupillary defect described as B/L pupillary constriction
when light is shined in the unaffected eye and B/L paradoxical dilation when light
is shined in the affected eye? - ANSWER Afferent pupillary defect (CN II
lesion); in an efferent pupillary defect (CN III), B/L constrict when light is shined in
the unaffected eye and consentual pupil constriction occurs when light is shined in
the affected eye.
What is the name of the spinal cord passing within the subarachnoid space and
forming the spinal nerves that exit the lumbar and sacral foramina? - ANSWER
Cauda equina
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Pulls the arytenoids
cartilages closer to the thyroid, relaxing the vocal ligaments and thereby
decreasing the pitch - ANSWER Thyroarytenoid muscles
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Tenses the vocal
ligaments, increasing the distance between the cartilages, thereby increasing the
pitch - ANSWER Cricothyroid muscles
,Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Adducts the vocal
ligaments, closes the air passageway during swallowing, and allows phonation -
ANSWER Lateral cricoarytenoid muscles
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Only muscle to abduct
the vocal cords - ANSWER Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
Where does the parotid (Stensen's) duct enter the oral cavity? - ANSWER
Opposite the second upper molar tooth
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Common and
internal carotid arteries - ANSWER Third aortic arch MS CARD is my mnemonic
for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Degenerates -
ANSWER Fifth MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Stapes artery -
ANSWER Second MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Maxillary artery -
ANSWER First MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Arch of the aorta
and right subclavian artery - ANSWER Fourth MS CARD is my mnemonic for
the aortic arch derivatives
,From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Right and left
pulmonary arteries and the ductus arteriosus - ANSWER Sixth MS CARD is my
mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
What abdominal muscle contributes to the anterior layer of the rectus sheath,
forms the inguinal ligament, and in men gives rise to the external spermatic fascia
of the spermatic cord? - ANSWER External abdominal oblique
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Adduct the thigh and flex the hip - ANSWER Medial
compartment of the thigh, obturator nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Plantar flex the foot, flex the toes, and invert the foot - ANSWER
Posterior compartment of the leg, tibial nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Dorsiflex the foot, extend the toes, and invert the foot -
ANSWER Anterior compartment of the leg, deep peroneal nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Flex the hip and extend the knee - ANSWER Anterior
compartment of the thigh, femoral nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Extend the hip and flex the knee - ANSWER Posterior
compartment of the thigh, tibial nerve
, Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Plantar flex the foot and evert the foot - ANSWER Lateral
compartment of the leg, superficial peroneal nerve
What are the five branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus? -
ANSWER STARS 1. Upper Subscapularis 2. Thoracodorsal 3. Axillary 4. Radial 5.
Lower Subscapularis
Name the correct artery. • The right recurrent laryngeal nerve passes around it. -
ANSWER Right brachiocephalic artery
Name the correct artery. • The left recurrent laryngeal nerve passes around it. -
ANSWER Arch of the aorta
The inferior mesenteric artery drains into it. - ANSWER The splenic vein
Are the quadrate and caudate lobes of the liver functionally part of the left or
right lobe? - ANSWER Functionally they are part of the left lobe of the liver
because they receive their blood supply from the left hepatic artery. Anatomically
they are considered part of the right lobe of the liver.
What bones make up the acetabulum? - ANSWER Pubis, ilium, and ischium
What is the anatomic positioning of the right and left gastric nerve plexus of the
esophagus as they pass through the diaphragm? - ANSWER LARP: Left goes
Anterior and Right goes Posterior (because of the rotation of the gut; remember
your embryology!)
PART I QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS | NEW UPDATE
2025
What gland is found in the muscular triangle of the neck? - ANSWER Thyroid
gland
Is an afferent or efferent pupillary defect described as B/L pupillary constriction
when light is shined in the unaffected eye and B/L paradoxical dilation when light
is shined in the affected eye? - ANSWER Afferent pupillary defect (CN II
lesion); in an efferent pupillary defect (CN III), B/L constrict when light is shined in
the unaffected eye and consentual pupil constriction occurs when light is shined in
the affected eye.
What is the name of the spinal cord passing within the subarachnoid space and
forming the spinal nerves that exit the lumbar and sacral foramina? - ANSWER
Cauda equina
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Pulls the arytenoids
cartilages closer to the thyroid, relaxing the vocal ligaments and thereby
decreasing the pitch - ANSWER Thyroarytenoid muscles
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Tenses the vocal
ligaments, increasing the distance between the cartilages, thereby increasing the
pitch - ANSWER Cricothyroid muscles
,Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Adducts the vocal
ligaments, closes the air passageway during swallowing, and allows phonation -
ANSWER Lateral cricoarytenoid muscles
Name the laryngeal muscle described by the following: • Only muscle to abduct
the vocal cords - ANSWER Posterior cricoarytenoid muscles
Where does the parotid (Stensen's) duct enter the oral cavity? - ANSWER
Opposite the second upper molar tooth
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Common and
internal carotid arteries - ANSWER Third aortic arch MS CARD is my mnemonic
for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Degenerates -
ANSWER Fifth MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Stapes artery -
ANSWER Second MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Maxillary artery -
ANSWER First MS CARD is my mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Arch of the aorta
and right subclavian artery - ANSWER Fourth MS CARD is my mnemonic for
the aortic arch derivatives
,From what aortic arch are the following structures derived? • Right and left
pulmonary arteries and the ductus arteriosus - ANSWER Sixth MS CARD is my
mnemonic for the aortic arch derivatives
What abdominal muscle contributes to the anterior layer of the rectus sheath,
forms the inguinal ligament, and in men gives rise to the external spermatic fascia
of the spermatic cord? - ANSWER External abdominal oblique
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Adduct the thigh and flex the hip - ANSWER Medial
compartment of the thigh, obturator nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Plantar flex the foot, flex the toes, and invert the foot - ANSWER
Posterior compartment of the leg, tibial nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Dorsiflex the foot, extend the toes, and invert the foot -
ANSWER Anterior compartment of the leg, deep peroneal nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Flex the hip and extend the knee - ANSWER Anterior
compartment of the thigh, femoral nerve
Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Extend the hip and flex the knee - ANSWER Posterior
compartment of the thigh, tibial nerve
, Name the compartment of the lower extremity and the nerve based on its
movements. • Plantar flex the foot and evert the foot - ANSWER Lateral
compartment of the leg, superficial peroneal nerve
What are the five branches of the posterior cord of the brachial plexus? -
ANSWER STARS 1. Upper Subscapularis 2. Thoracodorsal 3. Axillary 4. Radial 5.
Lower Subscapularis
Name the correct artery. • The right recurrent laryngeal nerve passes around it. -
ANSWER Right brachiocephalic artery
Name the correct artery. • The left recurrent laryngeal nerve passes around it. -
ANSWER Arch of the aorta
The inferior mesenteric artery drains into it. - ANSWER The splenic vein
Are the quadrate and caudate lobes of the liver functionally part of the left or
right lobe? - ANSWER Functionally they are part of the left lobe of the liver
because they receive their blood supply from the left hepatic artery. Anatomically
they are considered part of the right lobe of the liver.
What bones make up the acetabulum? - ANSWER Pubis, ilium, and ischium
What is the anatomic positioning of the right and left gastric nerve plexus of the
esophagus as they pass through the diaphragm? - ANSWER LARP: Left goes
Anterior and Right goes Posterior (because of the rotation of the gut; remember
your embryology!)
