Comprehensive Clinical Anatomy,
Neurovascular, Musculoskeletal,
Cardiopulmonary, Gastrointestinal,
Urogenital, and Pediatric
Pathophysiology Mastery Guide for High-
Yield Medical Exam Question Verified
and Complete with A+ Graded Rationales
LATEST UPDATED 2026
1. What is a lumbar puncture used for?
- needle inserted into subarachnoid space
→ extract CSF (spinal tap)
→ inject anesthetic (spinal block)
→ inject contrast material.
1. Where is the needle inserted in lumbar puncture?
- between L3/L4 (or L4/L5)
- at level of horizontal line thru upper points of iliac crest
1. What considerations must be taken in a lumbar puncture?
- spinal cord may end as low as L2 in adults, L3 in children, so go below that
- check for high intracranial pressure, b/c may herniate cerebellar tonsils thru foramen magnum
2. Where does a herniated intervertebral (IV) disc usually occur?
- in lumbar (L4/L5/S1) or cervical (C5/C6/C7) regions
- us. in younger than age 50
2. What can cause a herniated IV disc?
- may follow degenerative changes in anulus fibrosus
- from sudden compression of nucleus pulposus (inner fluid part)
2. What nerves do herniated IV discs usually involve?
- us. nerve root 1 number below (traversing root)
- e.g. L4/L5 herniation will compress L5 root
1|Page
,3. What is kyphosis & what may cause it?
- exaggerated thoracic curvature
- in elderly from *osteoporosis*
- compression fractures of vert. bodies
- disk degeneration
3. What is lordosis & what may cause it?
- exaggerated lumbar curvature
- may be temporary
- from *spondylolisthesis*, pregnancy, or potbelly
3. What is scoliosis & what may cause it?
- lateral deviation/torsion of spine
- from poliomyelitis, hip disease, or leg-length discrepancy
4. What 4 nerves (& 3 arteries) can be damaged from different humerus fractures?
- at surgical neck: axillary N., post. humeral circumflex A.
- at midshaft: radial N., profunda brachii A.
- at supracondylar region: median N., brachial A.
- at medial epicondyle: ulnar N.
4. What is the most common fracture of the forearm, & different variations of it?
- transverse fracture w/in distal 2 cm of radius (most common after 50)
- includes Smith's (flexion) fracture & Colles' (extension) fracture
4. What is a Smith's fracture, & what causes it?
- from fall on dorsal aspect of flexed wrist
→ ventral angulation of wrist
→ distal fragment is ant'ly displaced
4. What is a Colles' fracture, & what causes it?
- from forced extension of hand by fall
- distal fragment is dorsally displaced
- ulnar styloid process is often avulsed
= "dinner fork deformity"
4. What are the causes & signs of a scaphoid fracture?
2|Page
,- from fall onto palm of outstretched hand
- most pain on lat. side of wrist, in extension & abduction
- deep tenderness in anatomical snuffbox
- may not show on X-ray for 3 wks
- can have avascular necrosis of proximal fragment
4. What are boxer's fractures, and where are they commonly found?
- fractured necks of metacarpal bones from fistfights
- us. 2nd & 3rd metacarpals in professional boxers
- 5th & 4th in unskilled fighters
5. What are the rotator cuff muscles?
SITS:
- supraspinatus
- infraspinatus
- teres minor
- subscapularis
5. What do the rotator cuff muscles do?
- support shoulder joint by forming musculotendinous cuff around it
- reinforced joint all sides except inf'ly
→ inf. dislocation is most likely
6. What muscles are needed for upper limb abduction? What nerves supply them?
- 0-15°: supraspinatus (suprascapular N.)
- 15-110°: deltoid (axillary N.)
-110-180°: trapezius (accessory N.) & serratus anterior (long thoracic N.)
6. What is subacromial bursitis, & what causes it?
- inflammation of subacromial bursa
- from calcific supraspinatus tendinitis
- causes painful arc of abduction
7. What is golfer's elbow?
- medial epicondylitis
- inflammation of common flexor tendon of wrist at medial epicondyle of humerus
7. What is tennis elbow? What are the causes & symptoms?
3|Page
, - lateral epicondylitis
- inflammation of common extensor tendon & periosteum of lat. epicondyle
- from repeated forceful flexion & extension
- pain radiates down post. aspect of forearm
8. What anastomoses allow collateral circulation when subclavian or axillary A's are blocked?
- anastomoses b/w br's of thyrocervical trunk & subscapular A's:
-- transverse cervical
-- suprascapular
-- subscapular
-- circumflex scapular
9. What are the contents of the cubital fossa, from lateral to medial?
- biceps brachii tendon
- brachial A.
- median N.
*subcutaneous*:
- cephalic V.
- median cubital V.
-basilic V.
9. What is usually the site of venipuncture? Why?
- median cubital V.:
- overlies bicipital aponeurosis, so deeper structures are protected
- not accompanied by nerves
10. What causes carpal tunnel syndrome? What nerve is involved?
- from lesion that decreases size of carpal tunnel (lunate bone dislocation, infection)
→ affects median N., most sensitive structure in carpal tunnel
10. What are the clinical manifestations of carpal tunnel syndrome?
- anesthesia/parasthesia of lat. 3.5 digits
- palm sensation *not* affected b/c superficial palmar cutaneous br. passes superficial to carpal
tunnel
- apehand deformity (lack of opposition)
11. What muscles flex the interphalangeal joints?
4|Page
Neurovascular, Musculoskeletal,
Cardiopulmonary, Gastrointestinal,
Urogenital, and Pediatric
Pathophysiology Mastery Guide for High-
Yield Medical Exam Question Verified
and Complete with A+ Graded Rationales
LATEST UPDATED 2026
1. What is a lumbar puncture used for?
- needle inserted into subarachnoid space
→ extract CSF (spinal tap)
→ inject anesthetic (spinal block)
→ inject contrast material.
1. Where is the needle inserted in lumbar puncture?
- between L3/L4 (or L4/L5)
- at level of horizontal line thru upper points of iliac crest
1. What considerations must be taken in a lumbar puncture?
- spinal cord may end as low as L2 in adults, L3 in children, so go below that
- check for high intracranial pressure, b/c may herniate cerebellar tonsils thru foramen magnum
2. Where does a herniated intervertebral (IV) disc usually occur?
- in lumbar (L4/L5/S1) or cervical (C5/C6/C7) regions
- us. in younger than age 50
2. What can cause a herniated IV disc?
- may follow degenerative changes in anulus fibrosus
- from sudden compression of nucleus pulposus (inner fluid part)
2. What nerves do herniated IV discs usually involve?
- us. nerve root 1 number below (traversing root)
- e.g. L4/L5 herniation will compress L5 root
1|Page
,3. What is kyphosis & what may cause it?
- exaggerated thoracic curvature
- in elderly from *osteoporosis*
- compression fractures of vert. bodies
- disk degeneration
3. What is lordosis & what may cause it?
- exaggerated lumbar curvature
- may be temporary
- from *spondylolisthesis*, pregnancy, or potbelly
3. What is scoliosis & what may cause it?
- lateral deviation/torsion of spine
- from poliomyelitis, hip disease, or leg-length discrepancy
4. What 4 nerves (& 3 arteries) can be damaged from different humerus fractures?
- at surgical neck: axillary N., post. humeral circumflex A.
- at midshaft: radial N., profunda brachii A.
- at supracondylar region: median N., brachial A.
- at medial epicondyle: ulnar N.
4. What is the most common fracture of the forearm, & different variations of it?
- transverse fracture w/in distal 2 cm of radius (most common after 50)
- includes Smith's (flexion) fracture & Colles' (extension) fracture
4. What is a Smith's fracture, & what causes it?
- from fall on dorsal aspect of flexed wrist
→ ventral angulation of wrist
→ distal fragment is ant'ly displaced
4. What is a Colles' fracture, & what causes it?
- from forced extension of hand by fall
- distal fragment is dorsally displaced
- ulnar styloid process is often avulsed
= "dinner fork deformity"
4. What are the causes & signs of a scaphoid fracture?
2|Page
,- from fall onto palm of outstretched hand
- most pain on lat. side of wrist, in extension & abduction
- deep tenderness in anatomical snuffbox
- may not show on X-ray for 3 wks
- can have avascular necrosis of proximal fragment
4. What are boxer's fractures, and where are they commonly found?
- fractured necks of metacarpal bones from fistfights
- us. 2nd & 3rd metacarpals in professional boxers
- 5th & 4th in unskilled fighters
5. What are the rotator cuff muscles?
SITS:
- supraspinatus
- infraspinatus
- teres minor
- subscapularis
5. What do the rotator cuff muscles do?
- support shoulder joint by forming musculotendinous cuff around it
- reinforced joint all sides except inf'ly
→ inf. dislocation is most likely
6. What muscles are needed for upper limb abduction? What nerves supply them?
- 0-15°: supraspinatus (suprascapular N.)
- 15-110°: deltoid (axillary N.)
-110-180°: trapezius (accessory N.) & serratus anterior (long thoracic N.)
6. What is subacromial bursitis, & what causes it?
- inflammation of subacromial bursa
- from calcific supraspinatus tendinitis
- causes painful arc of abduction
7. What is golfer's elbow?
- medial epicondylitis
- inflammation of common flexor tendon of wrist at medial epicondyle of humerus
7. What is tennis elbow? What are the causes & symptoms?
3|Page
, - lateral epicondylitis
- inflammation of common extensor tendon & periosteum of lat. epicondyle
- from repeated forceful flexion & extension
- pain radiates down post. aspect of forearm
8. What anastomoses allow collateral circulation when subclavian or axillary A's are blocked?
- anastomoses b/w br's of thyrocervical trunk & subscapular A's:
-- transverse cervical
-- suprascapular
-- subscapular
-- circumflex scapular
9. What are the contents of the cubital fossa, from lateral to medial?
- biceps brachii tendon
- brachial A.
- median N.
*subcutaneous*:
- cephalic V.
- median cubital V.
-basilic V.
9. What is usually the site of venipuncture? Why?
- median cubital V.:
- overlies bicipital aponeurosis, so deeper structures are protected
- not accompanied by nerves
10. What causes carpal tunnel syndrome? What nerve is involved?
- from lesion that decreases size of carpal tunnel (lunate bone dislocation, infection)
→ affects median N., most sensitive structure in carpal tunnel
10. What are the clinical manifestations of carpal tunnel syndrome?
- anesthesia/parasthesia of lat. 3.5 digits
- palm sensation *not* affected b/c superficial palmar cutaneous br. passes superficial to carpal
tunnel
- apehand deformity (lack of opposition)
11. What muscles flex the interphalangeal joints?
4|Page
