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Question 1
Correct
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A 54-year-old woman is re-admitted to the hospital with shortness of breath and sharp chest pain 2 weeks after surgical cholecystectomy. The most probable cause of these clinical findings is:
Your Answer: Pulmonary embolus
Explanation:Pulmonary embolism is caused by the sudden blockage of a major lung blood vessel, usually by a blood clot. Symptoms include sudden sharp chest pain, cough, dyspnoea, palpitations, tachycardia or loss of consciousness. Risk factors for developing pulmonary embolism include long periods of inactivity, surgery, trauma, pregnancy, oral contraceptives, oestrogen replacement, malignancies and venous stasis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Respiratory
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Question 2
Correct
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Which of the following statements regarding aqueous humour is correct?
Your Answer: Is the only source of nutrients for the lens of the eye
Explanation:The aqueous humour is a transparent, watery fluid similar to plasma, but containing low protein concentrations. It is secreted from the ciliary epithelium and fills both the anterior and the posterior chambers of the eye. It maintains the intraocular pressure and inflates the globe of the eye. It is this hydrostatic pressure which keeps the eyeball in a roughly spherical shape and keeps the walls of the eyeball taut. It provides nutrition (e.g. amino acids and glucose) for the avascular ocular tissues; posterior cornea, trabecular meshwork, lens, and anterior vitreous. It may serve to transport ascorbate into the anterior segment to act as an antioxidant agent. The presence of immunoglobulins indicate its role in immune response to defend against pathogens.
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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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A 47 -year-old male was admitted due to a bleeding peptic ulcer. On his 3rd hospital day, he developed a cardiac arrhythmia. His serum potassium was markedly elevated. What is the most likely cause of hyperkalaemia in this patient?
Your Answer: Multiple blood transfusions
Explanation:Patients with gastrointestinal bleeding often require blood transfusion. Among the various side effects of blood transfusions, is the increase of potassium levels. The use of stored blood for transfusions is followed by an increase of serum potassium levels. Potassium level increases are more pronounced in patients who receive blood stored for more than 12 d. Furthermore, the lysis and destruction of red blood cells, especially in the transfusion of older PRBCs, can further increase potassium levels. Excessive use of a PPi has been associated with hyperkaelemia however would be less likely in this acute setting.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Fluids & Electrolytes
- Pathology
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Question 4
Incorrect
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Which of the following is a likely consequence of severe diarrhoea?
Your Answer: A metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: A decrease in the sodium content of the body
Explanation:Diarrhoea can occur due to any of the numerous aetiologies, which include infectious, drug-induced, food related, surgical, inflammatory, transit-related or malabsorption. Four mechanisms have been implicated in diarrhoea: increased osmotic load, increased secretion, inflammation and decreased absorption time. Diarrhoea can result in fluid loss with consequent dehydration, electrolyte loss (Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl–) and even vascular collapse. Loss of bicarbonate ions can lead to a metabolic acidosis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
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Question 5
Correct
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Which of the following statements is true of Colles’ fracture?
Your Answer: Is a cause of carpal tunnel syndrome
Explanation:Colles’ fracture is a distal fracture of the radius that is a known cause of carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel). It rarely results in ulnar nerve compression. A Colles’ fracture is extra-articular and does not extend into the wrist joint, otherwise this would make it an intra-articular fracture (Barton’s fracture). The distal fragment in a Colles’ fracture is displaced dorsally, unlike in a Smith’s fracture where the distal fragment is displaced volarly (ventrally). Associated fracture of the ulnar styloid process may occur and is a common associated injury.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Orthopaedics
- Pathology
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A 46-year old lady presents with chief complaints of a large mass in the left breast. Histopathology of the mass revealed a stromal component with an epithelial component. What is the likely lesion?
Your Answer: Medullary carcinoma of breast
Correct Answer: Phyllodes tumour
Explanation:Phyllodes tumours are large, quickly growing tumours which arise from the periductal stroma of the breast. These are fibroepithelial tumours and account for less than 1% of breast cancers. These tumours can be benign, borderline or malignant based on the histology. The tumour usually affects adult women, mostly between the age of 40 to 50 years. It can be confused with fibroadenoma, which however affects much younger patients.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Women's Health
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Question 7
Incorrect
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A 20 year lady is brought to the A&E following a road accident. She is hypotensive and a CT scan of the abdomen reveals a shattered spleen. An emergency splenectomy is performed where the splenic artery is ligated right at its origin. Which of the following arteries will have a diminished blood flow owing to ligation of the splenic artery at its origin?
Your Answer: Hepatic
Correct Answer: Left gastroepiploic
Explanation:Ligation of the splenic artery right at its point of origin should cut off blood flow in its branches. The following are the branches of the splenic artery: pancreatic branches, short gastric branches and left gastroepiploic arteries.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 8
Correct
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A young women following a road traffic accident suffered heavy blood loss and developed subsequent anaemia. Which of the following is a consequence of this?
Your Answer: A high reticulocyte count
Explanation:Anaemia refers to a decrease in the circulating levels of haemoglobin in the blood resulting in a reduced ability of the body to transport oxygen effectively. Anaemia from blood loss results in the body further compensating by releasing stored RBCs and immature RBCs from the bone marrow. Thus resulting in a high reticulocyte count.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- General
- Physiology
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Question 9
Incorrect
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An intern is attempting to put in an arterial line in an ICU patients left foot. Which is the best site to feel for the pulsation of the dorsalis pedis artery in the foot?
Your Answer: In the second dorsal metatarsal space
Correct Answer: Just lateral to the tendon of extensor hallucis longus
Explanation:The dorsalis pedis artery is the continuation of the anterior tibial artery. The pulse of the posterior tibial artery, which comes from the posterior compartment of the leg, may be felt behind the medial malleolus just lateral to the tendon of the extensor hallucis longus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Lower Limb
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Question 10
Correct
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Question 11
Correct
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Which of the following malignancies is associated with the development of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
Your Answer: Lung cancer
Explanation:Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a rare disorder of the neuromuscular junction. It can occur as a solitary diagnosis but it can also occur as a paraneoplastic syndrome associated with lung cancer, particularly small-cell histology. It can also be associated with other cancers such as lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, T-cell leukaemia, non-small-cell lung cancer, prostate cancer and thymoma.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neoplasia
- Pathology
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Question 12
Incorrect
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A 36-year-old woman suddenly suffers from a generalized seizure. She was previously healthy. An emergency CT scan reveals a mass in the posterior fossa, with distortion of the lateral ventricles. After removing the tumour, the biopsy reveals it contains glial fibrillary acidic protein (GEAP). What's the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Meningioma
Correct Answer: Astrocytoma
Explanation:Astrocytomas are primary intracranial tumours derived from astrocyte cells of the brain. They can arise in the cerebral hemispheres, in the posterior fossa, in the optic nerve and, rarely, in the spinal cord. These tumours express glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In almost half of cases, the first symptom of an astrocytoma is the onset of a focal or generalised seizure. Between 60% and 75% of patients will have recurrent seizures during the course of their illness. Secondary clinical sequelae may be caused by elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) cause by the direct mass effect, increased blood volume, or increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume. CT will usually show distortion of the third and lateral ventricles, with displacement of the anterior and middle cerebral arteries. Histological diagnosis with tissue biopsy will normally reveal an infiltrative character suggestive of the slow growing nature of the tumour.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neurology
- Pathology
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Question 13
Incorrect
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Fine-needle aspiration is a type of biopsy procedure. When performing a fine-needle aspiration of the lungs, which is the most common complication of the procedure?
Your Answer: Haemothorax
Correct Answer: Pneumothorax
Explanation:Pneumothorax is the most common complication of a fine-needle aspiration procedure. Various factors, such as lesion size, have been associated with increased risk of pneumothorax .
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Respiratory
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Question 14
Incorrect
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Which of the following substances is most likely to cause pulmonary vasodilatation?
Your Answer: Catecholamines
Correct Answer: Nitric oxide
Explanation:In the body, nitric oxide is synthesised from arginine and oxygen by various nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzymes and by sequential reduction of inorganic nitrate. The endothelium of blood vessels uses nitric oxide to signal the surrounding smooth muscle to relax, so dilating the artery and increasing blood flow. Nitric oxide/oxygen blends are used in critical care to promote capillary and pulmonary dilation to treat primary pulmonary hypertension in neonatal patients post-meconium aspiration and related to birth defects.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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Question 15
Incorrect
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After a total colectomy and ileotomy, a 50-year old diabetic man who was a known case of diabetic nephropathy had persistent metabolic acidosis. The patient appeared well perfused, with normal vital signs and normal fluid balance. Investigations revealed:
Sodium = 132 mmol/l
Potassium = 6.6 mmol/l
Creatinine = 185 μmol/l (2.16 mg/dl)
Chloride = 109 μmol/l
8am cortisol = 500 nmol/l (18 μg/dl)
pH = 7.29, p(CO2) = 27 mmHg
p(O2) = 107 mmHg
standard bicarbonate = 12 mmol/l.
What is the likely causes of his acidosis?Your Answer: Lactic acidosis
Correct Answer: Renal tubular acidosis
Explanation:Acidosis here is due to low bicarbonate. The low p(CO2) is seen in compensation. The anion gap is normal, ruling out intra-abdominal ischaemia (which leads to metabolic acidosis). If it was a gastrointestinal aetiology, low potassium would be seen. The history of diabetic nephropathy predisposes to renal tubular acidosis. Type 4 (hyporeninaemic hypoaldosteronism) is associated with high potassium and is found in diabetic and hypertensive renal disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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Question 16
Correct
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A 60-year old woman who has a left sided post-pneumonic effusion, was to have some pleural fluid aspirated for culture and sensitivity. If the medical intern in charge of the procedure decided to aspirate while the patient is sitting up on her bed, where in the pleural cavity would the fluid tend to accumulate?
Your Answer: Costodiaphragmatic recess
Explanation:The lowest part of the pleural cavity is the costodiaphragmatic recess and it the space in which the pleural fluid will accumulate when the patient sits up.
The cupola is part of the pleural cavity that extends into the root of the neck above the first rib.
The costomediastinal recess is the junction at which the costal pleura becomes the mediastinal pleura.
The middle mediastinum is the part of the mediastinum that is occupied by the heart.
The hilar reflection is the point where the mediastinal pleura is reflected to continue on as the visceral pleura.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 17
Correct
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A week after a renal transplant the patient received antilymphocyte globulins. Shortly after she developed fever and hypotension. Which of the following mechanisms is involved in this response?
Your Answer: Type III hypersensitivity
Explanation:Type III hypersensitivity is characterized by soluble immune complexes which are aggregations of IgG and IgM antibodies with antigens that deposit in different tissues e.g. the skin, joints, kidneys. They can then trigger an immune response by activating the complement cascade. This reaction can take hours to develop and examples include: immuno-complex glomerulonephritis, rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, subacute bacterial endocarditis, arthus reaction and serum sickness.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Inflammation & Immunology
- Pathology
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Question 18
Incorrect
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A 70-year old man had had a large indirect inguinal hernia for 3 years. He presents at the out patient clinic complaining of pain in the scrotum. There is, however, no evidence of obstruction or inflammation. You conclude that the hernial sac is most probably compressing the:
Your Answer: Femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve
Correct Answer: Ilioinguinal nerve
Explanation:The ilioinguinal nerve arises together with the iliohypogastric nerve from the first lumbar nerve to emerge from the lateral border of the psoas major muscle just below the iliohypogastric and passing obliquely across the quadratus lumborum and iliacus muscles. It perforates the transversus abdominis, near the anterior part of the iliac crest and communicates with the iliohypogastric nerve between the internal oblique and the transversus. It then pierces the internal oblique to distribute filaments to it and accompanying the spermatic cord through the subcutaneous inguinal ring, is distributed to the skin of the upper and medial parts of the thigh, the skin over the root of the penis and the upper part of the scrotum in man and to the skin covering the mons pubis and labium majus in the woman. As the ilioinguinal nerve runs through the inguinal canal, it could easily be compressed by a hernial sac.
The femoral branch of genitofemoral nerve provides sensory innervation of the upper medial thigh.
The femoral nerve innervates the compartment of the thigh and also has some cutaneous sensory branches to the thigh.
The iliohypogastric nerve innervates the skin of the lower abdominal wall, upper hip and upper thigh. The subcostal nerve innervates the skin of the anterolateral abdominal wall and the anterior scrotal nerve is a terminal branch of the ilioinguinal nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 19
Incorrect
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During a normal respiratory exhalation, what is the recoil alveolar pressure?
Your Answer: -15 cmH2O
Correct Answer: +10 cmH2O
Explanation:To determine compliance of the respiratory system, changes in transmural pressures (in and out) immediately across the lung or chest cage (or both) are measured simultaneously with changes in lung or thoracic cavity volume. Changes in lung or thoracic cage volume are determined using a spirometer with transmural pressures measured by pressure transducers. For the lung alone, transmural pressure is calculated as the difference between alveolar (pA; inside) and intrapleural (ppl; outside) pressure. To calculate chest cage compliance, transmural pressure is ppl (inside) minus atmospheric pressure (pB; outside). For the combined lung–chest cage, transmural pressure or transpulmonary pressure is computed as pA – pB. pA pressure is determined by having the subject deeply inhale a measured volume of air from a spirometer. Under physiological conditions the transpulmonary or recoil pressure is always positive; intrapleural pressure is always negative and relatively large, while alveolar pressure moves from slightly negative to slightly positive as a person breathes.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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Question 20
Incorrect
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A lad involved in a road traffic accident is rushed to casualty where physical examination reveals that he has limited extension of his right humerus. Which of the following nerves is most likely to have been injured?
Your Answer: Upper subscapular nerve
Correct Answer: Thoracodorsal nerve
Explanation:Extension of the humerus is a function of the latissimus dorsi. This muscle is supplied by the thoracodorsal nerve which is a branch of the posterior cord of the plexus whose fibres are derived from cranial nerves V, VI and VII.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 21
Incorrect
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Renal function is an indication of the state of the kidney, measured by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In a healthy person, GFR would be greatly increased by:
Your Answer: An increase in mean arterial pressure from 90 mmHg to 140 mmHg
Correct Answer: Substantial increases in renal blood flow
Explanation:An increase in the rate of renal blood flow (RBF) greatly increases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The more plasma available (from increased RBF), the more filtrate is formed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the volume of fluid filtered from the renal (kidney) glomerular capillaries into the Bowman’s capsule per unit time. Central to the physiologic maintenance of GFR is the differential basal tone of the afferent and efferent arterioles.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A victim of assault in a domestic violence is stabbed in the left chest. The tip of the pen knife entered the pleural space just above the cardiac notch. Luckily the lung was spared as it would only occupy this space during deep inspiration. Which of these structures was pierced by the knife?
Your Answer: Anterior mediastinum
Correct Answer: Costomediastinal recess
Explanation:The costomediastinal recess is located immediately next to the cardiac notch. The medial aspect of the superior lobe of the left lung, when fully inflated expands to this place. The lung wouldn’t enter the anterior or the posterior mediastinum which are found between the two pleural cavities.
The costodiaphragmatic recess is the lowest extent of the pleural cavity where the inferior lobes of the lungs would expand into in deep inhalation.
The cupola, is the part of the pleural cavity that extends above the first rib into the root of the neck. The superior most part of the superior lobe of the lung might extend into this part.
Pulmonary ligament: pleural fold that is located below the root of the lung where the visceral pleura and the mediastinal pleura are in continuity.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 23
Correct
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Which is the site of action of the drug omeprazole?
Your Answer: H+/K+ ATPase
Explanation:H+/K+-ATPase or ‘proton pump’ located in the canalicular membrane plays a major role in acid secretion. The ATPase here is magnesium-dependent. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and blocks H+/K+- ATPase.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
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Question 24
Correct
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13 year old girl developed sun burnt cheeks after spending the day playing on the beach. What is the underlying mechanism to her injury?
Your Answer: Free radical injury
Explanation:Free radicals are a by-product of chemical reactions with an unpaired electron in their outer most shell. They are capable of causing wide spread damage to cells. They can cause autolytic reactions thereby converting the reactants into free radicals. By absorbing sun light, the energy is used to hydrolyse water into hydroxyl (OH) and hydrogen (H) free radicals which can cause injury by lipid peroxidation of membranes, oxidative modification of proteins and damage to the DNA structure.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Injury & Wound Healing; Dermatology
- Pathology
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Question 25
Incorrect
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A 34-year-old woman has been suffering from headaches, fever, vomiting, and confusion for the last 5 days. A CT scan reveals an oedematous mass with ring enhancement in the left temporal region. It is biopsied, revealing glial cells, necrosis, neutrophils and lymphocytes. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Subacute infarction
Correct Answer: Cerebral abscess
Explanation:A cerebral abscess can result from direct extension of cranial infections, penetrating head trauma, haematogenous spread, or for unknown causes. An abscess forms when an area of cerebral inflammation becomes necrotic and encapsulated by glial cells and fibroblasts. Oedema around the abscess can increase the intracranial pressure. Symptoms result from increased intracranial pressure and mass effects. It is most frequent in the third decade of life, and when it occurs in children, it is usually associated with congenital heart disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neurology
- Pathology
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Question 26
Incorrect
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The posterior cord contains nerve fibres from which of the following levels of the spinal cord?
Your Answer: C8 and T1
Correct Answer: C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1
Explanation:THE correct answer is A. The posterior cord derives its fibres from the spinal nerves C5,C6,C7,C8,T1. This cord is formed from the fusion of the posterior divisions of the upper, lower, and middle trunks.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 27
Incorrect
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During gastrectomy, the operating surgeon ligates the short gastric arteries along the greater curvature of the stomach. Where do the short gastric arteries branch from?
Your Answer: Hepatic artery
Correct Answer: Splenic artery
Explanation:Short gastric arteries arise from the splenic artery at the end or from its terminal divisions. They are about 5 or 7 in number, passing from the left to the right in between the layers of the gastrosplenic ligament to be distributed along the greater curvature of the stomach.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 28
Incorrect
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A 13 year old girl presented with signs of shortness of breath, chest pain, non-productive cough, oedema of the lower extremities and cyanosis of the fingertips. She has a history of a ventricular septal defect not surgically corrected. The most probable cause of these symptoms is:
Your Answer: Endocarditis
Correct Answer: Shunt reversal
Explanation:A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common form of congenital heart defects and is characterised by the presence of a hole in the wall that separates the right from the left ventricle. Medium or large defects can cause many complications. One of these complication is Eisenmenger syndrome, characterised by reversal of the shunt (from left-to-right shunt into a right-to-left) ,cyanosis and pulmonary hypertension.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Pathology
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Question 29
Incorrect
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Intracellular shifting of hydrogen ions can generate a metabolic alkalosis. In which of the following conditions is metabolic alkalosis caused by this mechanism ?
Your Answer: Milk-alkali syndrome
Correct Answer: Hypokalaemia
Explanation:Metabolic alkalosis is characterized by a primary increase in the concentration of serum bicarbonate ions. This may occur as a consequence of a loss of hydrogen ions or a gain in bicarbonate. Hydrogen ions may be lost through the kidneys or the GI tract, as for example during vomiting, nasogastric suction or use of diuretics. Intracellular shifting of hydrogen ions develops mainly during hypokalaemia to maintain neutrality. Gain in bicarbonate ions may develop during administration of sodium bicarbonate in high amounts or in amounts that exceed the capacity of excretion of the kidneys, as seen in renal failure. Fluid losses may be another cause of metabolic alkalosis, causing the reduction of extracellular fluid volume.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Fluids & Electrolytes
- Pathology
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Question 30
Incorrect
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Which of the following physiological changes will you see in a young man who has been trekking in the Himalayas for 3 years?
Your Answer: Decreased haematocrit
Correct Answer: Increased renal excretion of HCO3 –
Explanation:The atmospheric pressure is lower at high altitudes as compared with sea level. This leads to a decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen. Once 2100 m (7000 feet) of altitude is reached, there is a drop in saturation of oxyhaemoglobin. The oxygen saturation of haemoglobin determines the oxygen content in the blood. The body physiological tries to adapt to high altitude by acclimatization. Immediate effects include hyperventilation, fluid loss (due to a decreased thirst drive), increase in heart rate and slightly lowered stroke volume. Long term effects include lower lactate production, compensatory alkali loss in urine, decrease in plasma volume, increased erythropoietin release and red cell mass, increased haematocrit, higher concentration of capillaries in striated muscle tissue, increase in myoglobin, increase in mitochondria, increase in aerobic enzyme concentration such as 2,3-DPG and pulmonary vasoconstriction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
