Examining the back of a patient with a lung abscess, the intern is told to ask him to fold his arms across his chest and bend forward, which enlarges a small triangle where breath sounds are heard most clearly. Which muscles bound this triangle?

Trapezius, latissimus dorsi and rhomboid major

Trapezius, levator scapulae and splenius

Teres major, teres minor and triceps

Latissimus dorsi, external oblique and iliac crest

General anatomy, back and vertebral column

14 NEET-PG practice questions on General anatomy, back and vertebral column, part of Anatomy. The first 14 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Easy
The pubic symphysis, which widens slightly in late pregnancy, belongs to which type of joint?
1. ASynovial plane joint
2. BPrimary cartilaginous joint
3. CSecondary cartilaginous joint
4. DFibrous syndesmosis
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Answer: C · Secondary cartilaginous joint
A secondary cartilaginous joint (symphysis) has hyaline cartilage over the bone ends joined by a fibrocartilaginous disc; it is permanent, lies in the midline and allows slight movement. Examples are the pubic symphysis, the intervertebral discs and the manubriosternal joint. Primary cartilaginous joints (synchondroses) are joined by hyaline cartilage only, as in the epiphyseal plate. Key point: Pubic symphysis, intervertebral and manubriosternal joints are secondary cartilaginous (symphyses).
- A: The symphysis has no synovial cavity.
- B: Primary cartilaginous joints are hyaline-only, often temporary, like growth plates.
- D: A syndesmosis is a fibrous joint like the inferior tibiofibular joint.
Question 2 · Medium
Regarding the muscles and spaces of the back: 1. Erector spinae is supplied by the dorsal rami of spinal nerves. 2. The lumbar triangle (of Petit) is bounded by the iliac crest, latissimus dorsi and internal oblique. 3. Latissimus dorsi is supplied by the dorsal rami of C6-C8. 4. Trapezius receives its motor supply from the spinal accessory nerve. Which statements are correct?
1. A1, 2 and 4 only
2. B2 and 3 only
3. C1 and 4 only
4. D1, 2, 3 and 4
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Answer: C · 1 and 4 only
The deep (true) back muscles, such as erector spinae, are supplied by dorsal rami. The superficial back muscles are limb muscles that migrated: trapezius is supplied by the spinal accessory nerve, and latissimus dorsi by the thoracodorsal nerve (C6-C8), a ventral-ramus branch of the posterior cord. The lumbar triangle is bounded by the iliac crest below, latissimus dorsi behind and the external oblique in front, with the internal oblique in its floor. Key point: True back muscles: dorsal rami; latissimus dorsi: thoracodorsal nerve; Petit's triangle: external oblique in front.
- A: Statement 2 is false: the external oblique, not the internal, bounds the triangle.
- B: Both are false: internal oblique forms the floor, and latissimus dorsi is supplied by the thoracodorsal nerve.
- D: Statements 2 and 3 are false.
Question 3 · Medium
Examining the back of a patient with a lung abscess, the intern is told to ask him to fold his arms across his chest and bend forward, which enlarges a small triangle where breath sounds are heard most clearly. Which muscles bound this triangle?
1. ATrapezius, latissimus dorsi and rhomboid major
2. BTrapezius, levator scapulae and splenius
3. CTeres major, teres minor and triceps
4. DLatissimus dorsi, external oblique and iliac crest
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Answer: A · Trapezius, latissimus dorsi and rhomboid major
The triangle of auscultation is bounded by the lateral border of trapezius, the upper border of latissimus dorsi and the medial border of the scapula with rhomboid major. Its floor is thin (rhomboid major, the 6th and 7th ribs and the intercostal space), so breath sounds are clearer. Folding the arms and bending forward pulls the scapula laterally and enlarges it. Key point: Triangle of auscultation: trapezius, latissimus dorsi and the medial scapular border (rhomboid major).
- B: These are muscles of the posterior triangle of the neck.
- C: These bound the spaces of the axilla, behind the shoulder.
- D: That is the lumbar triangle (of Petit), a hernia site.
Question 4 · Medium
After a fall from a two-wheeler, an MRI shows a C5-C6 disc prolapse in a schoolteacher with numbness of the thumb and the lateral forearm, weak elbow flexion, and reduced biceps and brachioradialis reflexes. Triceps jerk is normal. Which nerve root is compressed?
1. AC6
2. BC5
3. CC8
4. DC7
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Answer: A · C6
In the cervical spine the root exits above the vertebra of the same number, so a C5-C6 disc compresses the C6 root. C6 supplies the skin of the lateral forearm and thumb, contributes to biceps and brachioradialis, and mediates the biceps and supinator (brachioradialis) jerks. C7 lesions weaken triceps and abolish the triceps jerk, and C8 affects the little finger and grip. Key point: C6 root: thumb numbness with reduced biceps and brachioradialis jerks.
- B: C5 supplies the lateral arm (regimental badge) and shoulder abduction.
- C: C8 affects the little finger and finger flexors.
- D: C7 affects the middle finger and the triceps jerk.
Question 5 · Medium
Post-mortem examination after a judicial hanging with a long drop and a subaural knot shows bilateral fractures through the pars interarticularis of one cervical vertebra, with forward slip of its body on the vertebra below. Which vertebra is classically fractured?
1. AAtlas (C1)
2. BC7
3. CC5
4. DAxis (C2)
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Answer: D · Axis (C2)
Sudden hyperextension and distraction of the upper neck, as in judicial hanging with a long drop or a head-on collision, fractures both pars (pedicles) of the axis, the hangman's fracture, with anterior slip of C2 on C3. The canal widens at that level, so survivors may have no cord injury, but in judicial hanging the cord is torn. In ordinary suicidal hanging the fracture is rare. Key point: Hangman's fracture is a bilateral pars fracture of the axis (C2).
- A: Atlas fractures (Jefferson) follow axial loading on the head.
- B: C7 fractures are not typical of hanging.
- C: C5 fractures follow flexion injuries such as diving.
Question 6 · Easy
Which type of cartilage forms the epiglottis and the auricle, and does not calcify with age?
1. AWhite fibrocartilage
2. BElastic cartilage
3. CArticular cartilage
4. DHyaline cartilage
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Question 7 · Medium
Before general anaesthesia for a hip replacement, a woman with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis has a lateral flexion X-ray of the neck showing the gap between the anterior arch of the atlas and the dens widened to 7 mm (normal up to 3 mm). Weakening of which ligament explains this, and puts her cord at risk during intubation?
1. ALigamentum nuchae
2. BApical ligament of the dens
3. CAnterior longitudinal ligament
4. DTransverse ligament of the atlas
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Question 8 · Hard
Consider these joints: 1. The epiphyseal plate of a long bone is a secondary cartilaginous joint. 2. The intervertebral disc forms a secondary cartilaginous joint. 3. A tooth in its socket forms a fibrous joint (gomphosis). 4. The manubriosternal joint is a primary cartilaginous joint. Which statements are correct?
1. A2 and 3 only
2. B1, 2 and 3 only
3. C2, 3 and 4 only
4. D1 and 4 only
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Question 9 · Hard
After a fall from a coconut tree, a climber has a burst fracture of the L1 vertebral body on CT. He fell about 6 metres and landed on his buttocks; he is alert and oriented. He has numbness over the perineum and buttocks in a saddle distribution, painless urinary retention, a lax anal sphincter with absent anal and bulbocavernosus reflexes, and nearly normal power in both legs with preserved knee jerks. Sensation over the thighs and legs is intact. Which part of the neuraxis has been injured at this vertebral level?
1. ALumbar enlargement (L2-L4 segments)
2. BThoracic cord at T10
3. CCauda equina
4. DConus medullaris
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Question 10 · Medium
CT of the cervical spine after a road accident shows a fracture of the right transverse process of C4 extending into its foramen. The next day the patient develops vertigo, ataxia, dysarthria and a right Horner syndrome with crossed sensory loss. Which vessel was injured?
1. AInternal carotid artery
2. BVertebral artery
3. CDeep cervical artery
4. DAscending cervical artery
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Question 11 · Easy
Herpes zoster in a band around the trunk at the level of the umbilicus involves which dermatome?
1. AL1
2. BT10
3. CT7
4. DT12
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Question 12 · Hard
Spinal anaesthesia for a knee replacement is planned in an elderly man whose lumbar X-ray shows calcified supraspinous and interspinous ligaments and narrow interspinous gaps. Echocardiography, platelet count and INR are normal, so a single-shot spinal is preferred to general anaesthesia. Two midline attempts hit bone. The anaesthetist switches to a paramedian approach, inserting the needle 1 cm lateral to the upper edge of the lower spinous process and angling it slightly medially and cranially. Which ligament is the first one the needle meets on this route before the dura?
1. APosterior longitudinal ligament
2. BSupraspinous ligament
3. CInterspinous ligament
4. DLigamentum flavum
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Question 13 · Medium
In the physiotherapy department, a weaver with a stiff neck after a fall is assessed. Turning the head from side to side, as in saying 'no', is markedly limited and painful, while nodding the head is normal. About half of all rotation of the cervical spine normally takes place at which joint?
1. AAtlanto-occipital joints
2. BUncovertebral joints
3. CC2-C3 facet joints
4. DAtlanto-axial joints
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Question 14 · Medium
Oblique X-ray of the lumbar spine of a young fast bowler with chronic low back pain that worsens on extension shows a radiolucent 'collar' across the neck of the 'Scottie dog' at L5, without forward slip of the vertebra. Which part of the vertebra is defective?
1. ALamina at the spinous process
2. BVertebral body endplate
3. CPedicle
4. DPars interarticularis
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

General anatomy, back and vertebral column

The pubic symphysis, which widens slightly in late pregnancy, belongs to which type of joint?

Examining the back of a patient with a lung abscess, the intern is told to ask him to fold his arms across his chest and bend forward, which enlarges a small triangle where breath sounds are heard most clearly. Which muscles bound this triangle?

After a fall from a two-wheeler, an MRI shows a C5-C6 disc prolapse in a schoolteacher with numbness of the thumb and the lateral forearm, weak elbow flexion, and reduced biceps and brachioradialis reflexes. Triceps jerk is normal. Which nerve root is compressed?

Post-mortem examination after a judicial hanging with a long drop and a subaural knot shows bilateral fractures through the pars interarticularis of one cervical vertebra, with forward slip of its body on the vertebra below. Which vertebra is classically fractured?

Which type of cartilage forms the epiglottis and the auricle, and does not calcify with age?

CT of the cervical spine after a road accident shows a fracture of the right transverse process of C4 extending into its foramen. The next day the patient develops vertigo, ataxia, dysarthria and a right Horner syndrome with crossed sensory loss. Which vessel was injured?

Herpes zoster in a band around the trunk at the level of the umbilicus involves which dermatome?

In the physiotherapy department, a weaver with a stiff neck after a fall is assessed. Turning the head from side to side, as in saying 'no', is markedly limited and painful, while nodding the head is normal. About half of all rotation of the cervical spine normally takes place at which joint?

Oblique X-ray of the lumbar spine of a young fast bowler with chronic low back pain that worsens on extension shows a radiolucent 'collar' across the neck of the 'Scottie dog' at L5, without forward slip of the vertebra. Which part of the vertebra is defective?