GRAY'S ANATOMY FOR STUDENTS
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RICHARD L. DRAKE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — What is anatomy?
Stem
A patient presents after a fall with localized sensory loss over
the lateral forearm but intact hand strength. You are asked to
interpret whether this is best described as an anatomical vs.
physiological problem. Which interpretation most accurately
links structure to the observed functional deficit?
Options
A. A physiological disturbance of peripheral nerve conduction
without structural damage.
B. An anatomical lesion of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous
nerve supplying the lateral forearm.
C. A central nervous system lesion in the contralateral cerebral
,cortex causing isolated forearm sensory loss.
D. A vascular ischemic event in the brachial artery producing
selective sensory loss.
Correct answer
B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences)
The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is a peripheral sensory
branch of the musculocutaneous nerve that supplies the lateral
forearm. An anatomical lesion (e.g., compression at the elbow)
would produce focal sensory loss with preserved motor
strength in hand muscles. This structural explanation fits Gray’s
emphasis on correlating anatomical structures with functional
deficits.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Physiological disturbances (e.g., metabolic) often produce
diffuse symptoms rather than a sharply localized sensory map
supplied by a named cutaneous nerve.
C. A unilateral cortical lesion would produce broader sensory
deficits and often involve face/hand in a cortical sensory
pattern, not an isolated lateral forearm.
D. Ischemia of the brachial artery would affect larger tissue
territories and motor function, not a selective cutaneous
sensory loss.
Teaching Point
Match dermatomal/cutaneous maps to specific peripheral
nerves for localization.
,Citation
Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th Ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — Imaging
Stem
A 55-year-old smoker requires imaging to evaluate suspected
small pulmonary nodules. You must choose an imaging
modality that maximizes spatial resolution of lung parenchyma
and small air-filled structures. Which modality best balances
resolution and tissue contrast for this purpose?
Options
A. Plain radiography (X-ray) of the chest.
B. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest.
C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest.
D. Ultrasound of the thorax.
Correct answer
B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences)
CT provides high spatial resolution and excellent depiction of
lung parenchyma and small pulmonary nodules, using X-ray
slices reconstructed in multiple planes. Gray’s notes CT’s
superiority for detailed bony and air-filled structure assessment
, compared with plain radiography or MRI. CT is the imaging
choice when fine structural detail within the lungs is required.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Chest X-ray lacks the spatial resolution and sensitivity for
small nodules, often missing lesions <1 cm.
C. MRI gives superior soft-tissue contrast but is limited in
imaging air-filled lung parenchyma and can be affected by
motion artifact.
D. Ultrasound cannot penetrate air-filled lung effectively; it is
inappropriate for detecting intrapulmonary nodules.
Teaching Point
Use CT for high-resolution imaging of lung parenchyma and
small pulmonary nodules.
Citation
Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — Body systems
Stem
During a multidisciplinary case review you need to explain why
hepatic failure produces coagulation abnormalities. Which
explanation most directly links system anatomy to the observed
physiological impairment?
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RICHARD L. DRAKE
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — What is anatomy?
Stem
A patient presents after a fall with localized sensory loss over
the lateral forearm but intact hand strength. You are asked to
interpret whether this is best described as an anatomical vs.
physiological problem. Which interpretation most accurately
links structure to the observed functional deficit?
Options
A. A physiological disturbance of peripheral nerve conduction
without structural damage.
B. An anatomical lesion of the lateral antebrachial cutaneous
nerve supplying the lateral forearm.
C. A central nervous system lesion in the contralateral cerebral
,cortex causing isolated forearm sensory loss.
D. A vascular ischemic event in the brachial artery producing
selective sensory loss.
Correct answer
B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences)
The lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve is a peripheral sensory
branch of the musculocutaneous nerve that supplies the lateral
forearm. An anatomical lesion (e.g., compression at the elbow)
would produce focal sensory loss with preserved motor
strength in hand muscles. This structural explanation fits Gray’s
emphasis on correlating anatomical structures with functional
deficits.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Physiological disturbances (e.g., metabolic) often produce
diffuse symptoms rather than a sharply localized sensory map
supplied by a named cutaneous nerve.
C. A unilateral cortical lesion would produce broader sensory
deficits and often involve face/hand in a cortical sensory
pattern, not an isolated lateral forearm.
D. Ischemia of the brachial artery would affect larger tissue
territories and motor function, not a selective cutaneous
sensory loss.
Teaching Point
Match dermatomal/cutaneous maps to specific peripheral
nerves for localization.
,Citation
Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th Ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — Imaging
Stem
A 55-year-old smoker requires imaging to evaluate suspected
small pulmonary nodules. You must choose an imaging
modality that maximizes spatial resolution of lung parenchyma
and small air-filled structures. Which modality best balances
resolution and tissue contrast for this purpose?
Options
A. Plain radiography (X-ray) of the chest.
B. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest.
C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest.
D. Ultrasound of the thorax.
Correct answer
B
Rationale — Correct (3–4 sentences)
CT provides high spatial resolution and excellent depiction of
lung parenchyma and small pulmonary nodules, using X-ray
slices reconstructed in multiple planes. Gray’s notes CT’s
superiority for detailed bony and air-filled structure assessment
, compared with plain radiography or MRI. CT is the imaging
choice when fine structural detail within the lungs is required.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Chest X-ray lacks the spatial resolution and sensitivity for
small nodules, often missing lesions <1 cm.
C. MRI gives superior soft-tissue contrast but is limited in
imaging air-filled lung parenchyma and can be affected by
motion artifact.
D. Ultrasound cannot penetrate air-filled lung effectively; it is
inappropriate for detecting intrapulmonary nodules.
Teaching Point
Use CT for high-resolution imaging of lung parenchyma and
small pulmonary nodules.
Citation
Drake, R. L. (2024). Gray’s Anatomy for Students (5th Ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — The Body — Body systems
Stem
During a multidisciplinary case review you need to explain why
hepatic failure produces coagulation abnormalities. Which
explanation most directly links system anatomy to the observed
physiological impairment?
