Musculoskeletal anatomy Practice Questions
20 free Musculoskeletal anatomy practice questions for the USMLE Step 1, each with the correct answer and a detailed explanation. Open any question below, or take the full set as an interactive quiz.
Questions
20 questions
All Musculoskeletal anatomy questions
- Q1. A patient presents with difficulty initiating shoulder abduction. Which muscle is primarily responsible for initiating the first 15 degrees of abduction?
- Q2. A fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus damages the axillary nerve. Which muscle will show the greatest functional loss?
- Q3. A patient has weakness in wrist extension after a midshaft humeral fracture. Which nerve is most likely affected?
- Q4. A medical student palpates a muscle that flexes the hip and originates from the anterior inferior iliac spine. Which muscle is being palpated?
- Q5. Damage to the superior gluteal nerve results in a Trendelenburg gait. Which muscle is primarily impaired?
- Q6. A patient is unable to stand on tiptoes due to weakness in plantarflexion. Which muscle is most directly involved?
- Q7. A boxer presents with a winged scapula. Which muscle is most likely paralyzed?
- Q8. A patient cannot flex the distal interphalangeal joint of the index finger. Which muscle is impaired?
- Q9. A patient with ulnar nerve injury has difficulty abducting the fingers. Which muscle is primarily affected?
- Q10. A patient presents with difficulty extending the knee. All of the following muscles contribute to this action EXCEPT:
- Q11. An athlete experiences pain during forearm supination and elbow flexion. Which muscle is most likely strained?
- Q12. A patient with difficulty internally rotating the humerus likely has injury to which muscle?
- Q13. During a lung biopsy, a needle passes through the intercostal muscles. Which muscle layer is penetrated first?
- Q14. A clinician tests the Achilles tendon reflex. Which spinal nerve roots primarily mediate this reflex?
- Q15. A patient has loss of thumb opposition. Which muscle is most directly responsible for this action?
- Q16. A motorcyclist suffers a fracture of the fibular neck, injuring the common fibular nerve. Which function is most impaired?
- Q17. A patient has difficulty rising from a seated position due to weakness in hip extension. Which muscle is most likely affected?
- Q18. A rock climber injures the muscle that flexes the elbow when the forearm is pronated. Which muscle is most affected?
- Q19. A patient has difficulty with lateral rotation of the hip. Which muscle is least likely to be involved?
- Q20. A patient with carpal tunnel syndrome experiences weakness in thumb flexion. Which muscle is likely affected?