Organ System Disorders

Musculoskeletal and Skin: Osteoporosis, Psoriasis Practice Questions

20 free Musculoskeletal and Skin: Osteoporosis, Psoriasis 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.

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All Musculoskeletal and Skin: Osteoporosis, Psoriasis questions

20 questions
  1. Q1. A 72-year-old woman presents with a hip fracture after a minor fall. DEXA scan shows a T-score of –2.8. Which pathophysiologic process is most characteristic o…
  2. Q2. A patient with psoriasis develops silvery scales on extensor surfaces. Which histologic feature is classically seen?
  3. Q3. Which factor increases a patient’s risk of developing osteoporosis?
  4. Q4. A patient with psoriasis experiences worsening symptoms after streptococcal pharyngitis. Which type of hypersensitivity is implicated?
  5. Q5. Which medication reduces the risk of vertebral and hip fractures in osteoporosis by inhibiting osteoclast activity?
  6. Q6. A patient with psoriasis asks about nail findings associated with the disease. Which finding is characteristic?
  7. Q7. A postmenopausal woman begins estrogen replacement therapy. How does estrogen affect bone physiology?
  8. Q8. Which cytokine plays a major role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis?
  9. Q9. A patient presents with vertebral compression fractures. Which lab abnormality is expected in primary osteoporosis?
  10. Q10. A patient with psoriasis is started on a TNF-α inhibitor. What is the major risk of this therapy?
  11. Q11. A 65-year-old woman with osteoporosis begins teriparatide therapy. What is its mechanism?
  12. Q12. A pediatric patient with guttate psoriasis presents after a recent streptococcal infection. What is the typical distribution of lesions?
  13. Q13. A patient presents with low-trauma fractures. Which lifestyle factor contributes most strongly to osteoporosis?
  14. Q14. Which finding is characteristic of psoriatic arthritis rather than osteoarthritis?
  15. Q15. A patient with osteoporosis begins denosumab therapy. Which pathway is targeted?
  16. Q16. Which of the following nail findings is MOST specific for psoriasis?
  17. Q17. A 60-year-old woman develops vertebral fractures despite adequate calcium intake. Her labs show low vitamin D levels. What is the mechanism?
  18. Q18. A biopsy of a psoriatic plaque shows parakeratosis. What does this indicate?
  19. Q19. Which comorbidity is strongly associated with psoriasis due to chronic systemic inflammation?
  20. Q20. A patient with osteoporosis sustains a Colles fracture. This involves which bone?