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Question 1
Correct
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A 60-year old gentleman visited his general practitioner complaining of high grade fever for 7 days and a dull, aching pain in his left lumbar region. On enquiry, he admitted to having a burning sensation while passing urine. His blood results showed an elevated white blood cell count with a left shift. In his condition, which is the most characteristic finding on urine examination?
Your Answer: White blood cell casts
Explanation:Tubulointerstitial nephritis is the term given to primary injury to renal tubules and the renal interstitium, which ultimately results in a decline in renal function. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (acute pyelonephritis) is often seen as a result of infection or drug reactions. The most characteristic feature of this condition on urine analysis is the presence of white blood cell casts.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Renal
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Question 2
Incorrect
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The muscle that stabilizes the stapes is innervated by which of the following nerves?
Your Answer: Trigeminal nerve
Correct Answer: Facial nerve
Explanation:The stapedius is the smallest skeletal muscle in the human body. At just over one millimetre in length, its purpose is to stabilize the smallest bone in the body, the stapes and is innervated by a branch of the facial nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 3
Correct
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A patient is suspected to have a chromosomal abnormality. Which tumour and chromosomal association is correct?
Your Answer: Neurofibromas – chromosome 13
Correct Answer: Neuroblastoma – chromosome 1
Explanation:Neuroblastoma is associated with a deletion on chromosome 1 and inactivation of a suppressor gene. Neurofibromas and osteogenic sarcoma are associated with an abnormality on chromosome 17. Retinoblastoma (Rb) is associated with an abnormality on chromosome 13. Wilms’ tumours of the kidney are associated with an abnormality on chromosome 11.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neoplasia
- Pathology
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Question 5
Incorrect
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A young boy fell from a tree, sustaining an injury to the elbow area and damaging the nerve behind the medial epicondyle of the humerus. What is the most likely result from that injury?
Your Answer: Function of lumbricals 1 and 2
Correct Answer: Flexion in the distal interphalangeal joint of digit 5
Explanation:The nerve injured in this situation is the ulnar nerve. It passes posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus before going between the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle. This nerve supplies the muscles and skin of forearm and hand. At the level of medial epicondyle, the injury will led to paralysis in flexor carpi ulnaris and the ulnar half of the flexor digitorum profundus as well as the palmar interossei and hypothenar muscles in the hand. The correct answer will be that the boy will suffer from inability to flex the distal interphalangeal joint of digit 5
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 6
Incorrect
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What is the correct order of structures a needle must pass before it enters the pleural cavity?
Your Answer: External intercostals – internal intercostals – parietal pleura – innermost intercostals
Correct Answer: External intercostals – internal intercostals – innermost intercostals – parietal pleura
Explanation:The correct order of structures from superficial to deep are: the skin and subcutaneous tissue, the external intercostals followed by internal intercostals, innermost intercostals and finally parietal pleura.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 27-yeaar-old woman is diagnosed with candidiasis and prescribed fluconazole. What is the mechanism of action of fluconazole?
Your Answer: Inhibits phospholipase C
Correct Answer: Inhibits cytochrome P450
Explanation:Fluconazole is a triazole antifungal drug used in the treatment and prevention of superficial and systemic fungal infections. Like other imidazole- and triazole-class antifungals, fluconazole inhibits the fungal cytochrome P450 enzyme, 14-demethylase. It is used to treat candidiasis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, dermatophytosis, and pityriasis versicolor.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
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Question 8
Correct
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A swimmer was struggling to finish his training following an injury to his right arm. On further examination it was found that any movements involving adduction, medial rotation and extension of her arm were particularly weak. Which nerve in this case was damaged?
Your Answer: Thoracodorsal
Explanation:Weakness on these particular movements indicate that there is a problem with the latissimus dorsi muscle. This muscle is very important particularly in swimming movements and is supplied by the thoracodorsal nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 9
Incorrect
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Routine evaluation of a 38 year old gentleman showed a slightly lower arterial oxygen [pa(O2)] than the alveolar oxygen [pA(O2)]. This difference is:
Your Answer: Is due to significant diffusion gradients
Correct Answer: Is normal and due to shunted blood
Explanation:Blood that bypasses the ventilated parts of lung and enters the arterial circulation directly is known as shunted blood. It happens in normal people due to mixing of arterial blood with bronchial and some myocardial venous blood (which drains into the left heart). Diffusion limitation and reaction velocity with haemoglobin are immeasurably small. CO2 unloading will not affect the difference between alveolar and arterial p(O2). A large VSD will result in much lower arterial O2 as compared to alveolar O2.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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Question 10
Incorrect
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Osteomyelitis is most commonly caused by which microbe in adults?
Your Answer: Staphylococcus epidermidis
Correct Answer: Staphylococcus aureus
Explanation:Osteomyelitis is most commonly caused by S. aureus in all age groups.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Orthopaedics
- Pathology
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Question 11
Incorrect
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The normal location of the major duodenal papilla:
Your Answer: 1 cm from the pylorus
Correct Answer: Descending part of the duodenum
Explanation:The major duodenal papilla is on the descending portion of the duodenum on the medial side, about 7-10cm from the pylorus. The pancreatic ducts and the common bile ducts unite and open by a common orifice on the summit of the duodenal papilla.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 12
Incorrect
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The most likely cause of prominent U waves on the electrocardiogram (ECG) of a patient is:
Your Answer: Hypocalcaemia
Correct Answer: Hypokalaemia
Explanation:The U-wave, not always visible in ECGs, is thought to represent repolarisation of papillary muscles or Purkinje fibres. When seen, it is very small and occurs after the T-wave. Inverted U-waves indicate myocardial ischaemia or left ventricular volume overload. Prominent U-waves are most commonly seen in hypokalaemia. Other causes include hypercalcaemia, thyrotoxicosis, digitalis exposure, adrenaline and class 1A and 3 anti-arrhythmic agents. It can also be seen in congenital long-QT syndrome and in intracranial haemorrhage.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Physiology
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Question 13
Incorrect
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Which of the following can occur even in the absence of brainstem co-ordination?
Your Answer: Chewing
Correct Answer: Gastric emptying
Explanation:Although gastric emptying is under both neural and hormonal control, it does not require brainstem co-ordination. Increased motility of the orad stomach (decreased distensibility) or of the distal stomach (increased peristalsis), decreased pyloric tone, decreased duodenal motility or a combination of these, all increase the rate of gastric emptying. The major control mechanism for gastric emptying is through duodenal gastric feedback. The duodenum has receptors for the presence of acid, carbohydrate, fat and protein digestion products, osmolarity different from that of plasma, and distension. Activating these receptors decreases the rate of gastric emptying. Neural mechanisms involve both enteric and vagal pathways and a vagotomy impairs the gastric emptying regulation. CCK (cholecystokinin) slows gastric emptying at physiological levels of the hormone. Gastrin, secretin and glucose-1-phosphate also slow gastric emptying, but require higher doses.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
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Question 14
Incorrect
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A 14-year old girl presented with a 2cm, mobile, cystic mass in the midline of her neck. Fine needle aspiration of the mass revealed clear fluid. This is most likely a case of:
Your Answer: Nodule of a multinodular goitre
Correct Answer: Thyroglossal duct cyst
Explanation:Thyroglossal cyst is the most common congenital thyroid anomaly which is clinically significant and affects women more than men. It is a vestigial remnant of developing thyroid. Although the thyroglossal cyst can develop anywhere along the thyroglossal duct, the most common site is in the midline between the isthmus of thyroid and hyoid bone, or just above the hyoid. Thyroglossal cysts are also associated with ectopic thyroid tissue. Clinically, the cyst moves upward with protrusion of the tongue. Rarely, the persistent duct can become malignant (thyroglossal duct carcinoma) where the cancerous cells arise in the ectopic thyroid tissue that are deposited along the duct. Exposure to radiation is a predisposing factor.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Endocrine
- Pathology
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Question 15
Incorrect
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An explorative laparotomy is done on a 23 year old following a gunshot abdominal injury through the right iliac fossa. It is found that the ileocolic artery is severed and the bullet had perforated the caecum. From which branch does the ileocolic artery originate?
Your Answer: Marginal artery
Correct Answer: Superior mesenteric artery
Explanation:Ileocolic artery branches off from the superior mesenteric artery. It then divides to give a superior and inferior branch.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 16
Correct
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In which of the following compartments of the femoral sheath is the femoral artery located?
Your Answer: Lateral compartment
Explanation:The femoral sheath also known as the crural sheath is made up of three compartments; lateral, intermediate and the medial. The femoral artery is contained in the lateral compartment of the femoral sheath while the femoral vein is in the intermediate compartment.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Lower Limb
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Question 17
Correct
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A 25 year old primi gravida lady was scheduled for a regular antenatal check up. During the vaginal exam of this lady, the registrar discovered a malignant growth on the anterior wall of her vagina. Which of the following structures, adjacent to the vagina, is likely to be involved as well?
Your Answer: Fundus of the bladder
Explanation:The fundus of the bladder is related anatomically to the anterior surface of the vagina and the urethra as well. If there was a malignant growth in the anterior surface of the vagina, then most likely the fundus of the bladder would be involved as well aspotentially the urethra.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Pelvis
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Question 18
Correct
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A 76-year-old man with a urinary tract obstruction due to prostatic hyperplasia develops acute renal failure. Which of the following physiological abnormalities of acute renal failure will be most life threatening for this patient?
Your Answer: Acidosis
Explanation:Acute renal failure (ARF) is a rapid loss of renal function due to damage to the kidneys, resulting in retention of nitrogenous (urea and creatinine) and non-nitrogenous waste products that are normally excreted by the kidney. This accumulation may be accompanied by metabolic disturbances, such as metabolic acidosis and hyperkalaemia, changes in body fluid balance and effects on many other organ systems. Metabolic acidosis and hyperkalaemia are the two most serious biochemical manifestations of acute renal failure and may require medical treatment with sodium bicarbonate administration and antihyperkalaemic measures. If not appropriately treated these can be life-threatening. ARF is diagnosed on the basis of characteristic laboratory findings, such as elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, or inability of the kidneys to produce sufficient amounts of urine.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 19
Incorrect
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Diuretics that act on the ascending limb of the loop of Henle produce:
Your Answer: Reduced passive transport of chloride
Correct Answer: Reduced active transport of sodium
Explanation:The loop of Henlé leads from the proximal convoluted tubule to the distal convoluted tubule. Its primary function uses a counter current multiplier mechanism in the medulla to reabsorb water and ions from the urine. It can be divided into four parts:
1. Descending limb of loop of Henl̩ Рlow permeability to ions and urea, while being highly permeable to water
2. Thin ascending limb of loop of Henl̩ Рnot permeable to water, but it is permeable to ions
3. Medullary thick ascending limb of loop of Henlé – sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl–) ions are reabsorbed by active transport. K+ is passively transported along its concentration gradient through a K+ channel in the basolateral aspect of the cells, back into the lumen of the ascending limb.
4. The cortical thick ascending limb – the site of action where loop diuretics such as furosemide block the K+/Na+/2Cl− co-transporters = reduced active transport.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 20
Incorrect
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Structures passing through the foramen magnum do NOT include the:
Your Answer: Medulla
Correct Answer: Vagus nerve
Explanation:Structures passing through the foramen magnum include the medulla, meninges, tectorial membrane, anterior spinal artery, vertebral artery and spinal branches of the accessory nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 21
Incorrect
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In the adult heart, the sinus venosus gives rise to the:
Your Answer: Trabeculated part of the right ventricle
Correct Answer: Coronary sinus
Explanation:The sinus venosus is a large quadrangular cavity which precedes the atrium on the venous side of the chordate heart. It exists distinctly only in the embryonic heart (where it is found between the two venae cavae); however, the sinus venosus persists in the adult. In the adult, it is incorporated into the wall of the right atrium to form a smooth part called the sinus venarum, which is separated from the rest of the atrium by a ridge of fibres called the crista terminalis. The sinus venosus also forms the SA node and the coronary sinus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Embryology
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A patient is suspected to have Blastomyces dermatidis infection. The patient contracted the disease most likely through which port of entry?
Your Answer: Anus
Correct Answer: Respiratory tract
Explanation:Blastomycosis disease is a fungal infection acquired through inhalation of the spores. It caused by the organism Blastomyces dermatitidis and manifests as a primary lung infection in about 70% of cases. The onset is relatively slow and symptoms are suggestive of pneumonia.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
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Question 23
Incorrect
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Digital rectal examination of a 75-year old gentleman who presented to the surgical clinic with urinary retention revealed an enlarged, nodular prostate. PSA was found to be elevated, favouring the diagnosis of prostatic malignancy. Which of the given options is the most common malignant lesion affecting the prostate gland?
Your Answer: Squamous cell carcinoma
Correct Answer: Adenocarcinoma
Explanation:Prostatic adenocarcinoma is the commonest solid malignancy and non-dermatological cancer in men above 50 years age. Increasing in incidence with age and the highest risk seen in the black population. About 75% of cases are seen in men over 65 years. Other tumours affecting the prostate include undifferentiated prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and ductal transitional carcinoma, but these occur less commonly. Sarcomas usually affect children. Hormones play a role in the aetiology of prostate adenocarcinoma unlike the other types. Intraepithelial neoplasia is considered a precursor of invasive malignancy.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Urology
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Question 24
Incorrect
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A 26-year-old female patient had the following blood report: RBC count = 4. 0 × 106/μl, haematocrit = 27% and haemoglobin = 11 g/dl, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) = 90 fl, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) = 41 g/dl. Further examination of blood sample revealed increased osmotic fragility of the erythrocytes. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s findings?
Your Answer: Thalassaemia
Correct Answer: Spherocytosis
Explanation:Spherocytes are small rounded RBCs. It is due to an inherited defect of the RBC cytoskeleton membrane tethering proteins. Membrane blebs form that are lost over time and cells become round instead of biconcave. As it is a normochromic anaemia, the MCV is normal. it is diagnosed by osmotic fragility test which reveals increased fragility in a hypotonic solution.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- General
- Physiology
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Question 25
Correct
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The vagus nerve passes through which of the following foramen?
Your Answer: Jugular foramen
Explanation:The jugular foramen is a large foramen in the base of the skull. It is located behind the carotid canal and is formed in front by the petrous portion of the temporal bone, and behind by the occipital bone. Cranial nerves IX, X, and XI and the internal jugular vein pass through the jugular foramen.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 26
Incorrect
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Which of the following factors will not affect the wound healing process in a young women who suffered serious burns to her chest and hands?
Your Answer: Steroids
Correct Answer: Vitamin A deficiency
Explanation:Healing can be sped-up or slowed down due to various reasons: 1. blood supply, 2. infection, 3. denervation, 4. collection of blood/hematoma, 5. mechanical stress, 6. foreign body, 7. techniques used during surgery and 8. dressing of the wound. Other systemic factors include 1. nutrition e.g. deficiency of zinc, vitamin C, protein deficiency, 2. metabolic status, 3. circulatory status and 4. hormonal influence
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Injury & Wound Healing
- Pathology
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Question 27
Incorrect
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The collaborative effort of the lateral pterygoid muscles produces which action on the jaw?
Your Answer: Laterotrusion of the mandible
Correct Answer: Protrude the mandible
Explanation:The combined effort of the lateral pterygoid muscles results in the protrusion of the mandible. The lateral pterygoid muscle is a muscle of mastication located superiorly to the medial pterygoid muscle and has two heads. The superior head originates on the infratemporal surface and infratemporal crest of the greater wing of the sphenoid bone, and the inferior head on the lateral surface of the lateral pterygoid plate. The insertion of this muscle is on the front margin of the articular disc of the temporomandibular joint. The unilateral contraction of the pterygoid muscle results in the laterotrusion of the mandible. It is important to note that the lateral pterygoid muscle is the only muscle of mastication that can open the jaw.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 28
Incorrect
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A significantly elevated white cell count of 50 x 109/l with 5% blasts and raised leucocyte alkaline phosphatase is seen in which of the following conditions?
Your Answer: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Correct Answer: Leukaemoid reaction
Explanation:Non-neoplastic proliferation of leucocytes causes an increase in leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (LAP). This is referred to as ‘leukemoid reaction’ because of the similarity to leukaemia with an increased white cell count (>50 × 109/l) with immature forms. Causes of leukemoid reaction includes haemorrhage, drugs (glucocorticoids, all-trans retinoic acid etc), infections such as tuberculosis and pertussis, and as a paraneoplastic phenomenon. Leukemoid reaction can also be seen in infancy as a feature of trisomy 21. This is usually a benign condition, but can be a response to a disease state. Differential diagnosis include chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Pathology
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Question 29
Incorrect
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Which of the following muscle divide the posterior triangle of the neck into the occipital and the subclavian triangle?
Your Answer: Anterior belly of the digastric
Correct Answer: Inferior belly of the omohyoid
Explanation:The posterior triangle (or lateral cervical region) is a region of the neck bounded in front by the sternocleidomastoid; behind, by the anterior margin of the trapezius; inferiorly by the middle third of the clavicle and superiorly by the occipital bone. The posterior triangle is crossed, about 2.5 cm above the clavicle, by the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle, which divides the space into two triangles: an upper or occipital triangle and a lower or subclavian triangle (or supraclavicular triangle).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 30
Correct
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A 65 year old man with a history of diabetes and hypertension presented with a stroke a few months ago severely affecting his speech and movement in the right arm and leg. A cerebral angiogram revealed a middle cerebral artery occlusion. A recent CT scan was done which revealed a 5 cm cystic space in his left parietal lobe. This lesion is a result of which of the following forms of resolution?
Your Answer: Liquefactive necrosis
Explanation:Characteristically, the brain will undergo liquefactive necrosis following ischaemic injury. This leaves a cystic space in that region which would show up on a CT scan. Atrophy would result in a generalized decrease in the brain size. Coagulative necrosis typically occurs in parenchymal organs e.g. the spleen or kidney which have a lower lipid content. Caseous necrosis is typical in granulomatous tuberculosis infection. Apoptosis will not form a cystic area as it is programmed cell death involving a individual cells. Gangrenous necrosis is characteristic of ischaemic injury of the lower limb and GI tract. Fibrinous necrosis results from necrotic damage to the blood vessels with the leaking of proteins into the vessel, appearing bright pink on H & E staining.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Injury & Wound Healing; Neurology
- Pathology
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
