NBME Anatomy 100 Concepts 2025/2026
Exam Questions and Answers | A+ Score
Assured
at what vertebral level(s) should you perform a lumbar puncture ? -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔L3/L4 or L4/L5; level of the iliac crests
when doing a lumbar puncture, what does your needle pierce through -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔skin --> fascia --> supraspinous ligament --> interspinous
ligament --> ligamentum flavum --> epidural space --> dura mater -->
subarachnoid space
What is a herniated disc? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔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 - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Lumbar Levels=
L4/L5 or L5/S1
cervical regions= C5/C6 or C6/C7
herniated disk presentation - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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
what is lordosis?
who is it seen in? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-exaggeration of the lumbar curvature
that may be temporary
-occurs during pregnancy, spondylolisthesis, or potbelly
what is scoliosis?
causes? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-lateral deviation/torsion of the spine
-caused by poliomyelitis, leg length discrepancy, or hip disease
what is the pars interarticularis - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔connects the superior facet
and inferior facet
what is spondylolysis?
presentation? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-defect/stress fracture in the pars
interarticularis
3
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, -most common reason for lower back pain in adolescent athletes
-usually at L5
what is spondylolisthesis?
presentation? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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 - 🧠ANSWER
✔✔spinal canal stenosis
positional pain, relieved with rest and analgesics, lumbar or cervical spine -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔osteoarthritis/degenerative
low back pain with paravertebral spasm after history of lifting a heavy
object - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔lumbosacral strain
low back pain in elderly which is exacerbated on minor exertion or touch -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔vertebral body fracture-- due to osteoporosis
Exam Questions and Answers | A+ Score
Assured
at what vertebral level(s) should you perform a lumbar puncture ? -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔L3/L4 or L4/L5; level of the iliac crests
when doing a lumbar puncture, what does your needle pierce through -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔skin --> fascia --> supraspinous ligament --> interspinous
ligament --> ligamentum flavum --> epidural space --> dura mater -->
subarachnoid space
What is a herniated disc? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔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 - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔Lumbar Levels=
L4/L5 or L5/S1
cervical regions= C5/C6 or C6/C7
herniated disk presentation - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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
what is lordosis?
who is it seen in? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-exaggeration of the lumbar curvature
that may be temporary
-occurs during pregnancy, spondylolisthesis, or potbelly
what is scoliosis?
causes? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-lateral deviation/torsion of the spine
-caused by poliomyelitis, leg length discrepancy, or hip disease
what is the pars interarticularis - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔connects the superior facet
and inferior facet
what is spondylolysis?
presentation? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-defect/stress fracture in the pars
interarticularis
3
COPYRIGHT©JOSHCLAY 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
, -most common reason for lower back pain in adolescent athletes
-usually at L5
what is spondylolisthesis?
presentation? - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔-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 - 🧠ANSWER
✔✔spinal canal stenosis
positional pain, relieved with rest and analgesics, lumbar or cervical spine -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔osteoarthritis/degenerative
low back pain with paravertebral spasm after history of lifting a heavy
object - 🧠ANSWER ✔✔lumbosacral strain
low back pain in elderly which is exacerbated on minor exertion or touch -
🧠ANSWER ✔✔vertebral body fracture-- due to osteoporosis
