NPTE Mnemonics Questions with Complete
Solutions
Vertebrae: recognizing a thoracic from lumbar
Examine vertebral body shape: Thoracic is heart-shaped body since your heart is in your
thorax.
Lumbar is kidney-bean shaped since kidneys are in lumbar area.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes
MEDIAN TRAP: Myxoedema
Edema premenstrually
Diabetes
Idiopathic
Agromegaly
Neoplasm
Trauma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Amyloidosis
Pregnancy
,• Mnemonic fits nicely since median nerve is trapped...
Hip: lateral rotators
"Play Golf Or Go On Quaaludes": • From top to bottom:
Piriformis
Gemellus superior
Obturator internus
Gemellus inferior
Obturator externus
Quadratus femoris
• Alternatively: "P-GO-GO-Q".
Radial nerve: muscles innervated
"Try A Big Chocolate Chip Sundae, Double Dip Cherries And Peanuts Preferably Included":
• In order of their innervation, proximal to distal:
Triceps
Anconeus
Brachioradialis
,ext. Carpi radialis longus
ext. Carpi radialis brevis
Supinator
ext. Digitorum
ext.Digiti minimi
ext. Carpi ulnaris
Abductor poll. longus
ext. Poll. brevis
ext. P poll. longus
ext. Indicis
• For the neighboring words that start with the same letter (eg: chocolate and chip), notice that
the longer word in the mnemonic, corresponds to the longer of the two muscle names (ex: ext.
carpi radialis longus and ext. carpi radialis brevis)
Tarsal bones of ankle
"Tiger Cubs Need MILC": Superior, then clockwise on right foot:
Talus
Calcaneus
Navicular
, Medial cuneiform
Intermediate cuneiform
Lateral cuneiform
Cuboid
Muscles: potentially absent ones
• Muscles which may be absent but may be important:
5 P's: Palmaris longus [upper limb]
Plantaris [lower limb]
Peroneus tertius [lower limb]
Pyramidalis [anterior abdominal wall]
Psoas minor [posterior abdominal wall]
Sperm: path through male reproductive system
"My boyfriend's name is STEVE": Seminiferous Tubules
Epididymis
Vas deferens
Ejaculatory duct
Solutions
Vertebrae: recognizing a thoracic from lumbar
Examine vertebral body shape: Thoracic is heart-shaped body since your heart is in your
thorax.
Lumbar is kidney-bean shaped since kidneys are in lumbar area.
Carpal tunnel syndrome causes
MEDIAN TRAP: Myxoedema
Edema premenstrually
Diabetes
Idiopathic
Agromegaly
Neoplasm
Trauma
Rheumatoid arthritis
Amyloidosis
Pregnancy
,• Mnemonic fits nicely since median nerve is trapped...
Hip: lateral rotators
"Play Golf Or Go On Quaaludes": • From top to bottom:
Piriformis
Gemellus superior
Obturator internus
Gemellus inferior
Obturator externus
Quadratus femoris
• Alternatively: "P-GO-GO-Q".
Radial nerve: muscles innervated
"Try A Big Chocolate Chip Sundae, Double Dip Cherries And Peanuts Preferably Included":
• In order of their innervation, proximal to distal:
Triceps
Anconeus
Brachioradialis
,ext. Carpi radialis longus
ext. Carpi radialis brevis
Supinator
ext. Digitorum
ext.Digiti minimi
ext. Carpi ulnaris
Abductor poll. longus
ext. Poll. brevis
ext. P poll. longus
ext. Indicis
• For the neighboring words that start with the same letter (eg: chocolate and chip), notice that
the longer word in the mnemonic, corresponds to the longer of the two muscle names (ex: ext.
carpi radialis longus and ext. carpi radialis brevis)
Tarsal bones of ankle
"Tiger Cubs Need MILC": Superior, then clockwise on right foot:
Talus
Calcaneus
Navicular
, Medial cuneiform
Intermediate cuneiform
Lateral cuneiform
Cuboid
Muscles: potentially absent ones
• Muscles which may be absent but may be important:
5 P's: Palmaris longus [upper limb]
Plantaris [lower limb]
Peroneus tertius [lower limb]
Pyramidalis [anterior abdominal wall]
Psoas minor [posterior abdominal wall]
Sperm: path through male reproductive system
"My boyfriend's name is STEVE": Seminiferous Tubules
Epididymis
Vas deferens
Ejaculatory duct
