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Question 1
Incorrect
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 A 45-year-old man presented to the doctor complaining of a flank pain and episodes of haematuria. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a left renal mass and the patient underwent a nephrectomy. Histopathological pattern was triphasic with blastemal, epithelial, and stromal components. The pathologist suggested the tumour resulted from the lack of a tumour suppressor gene on chromosome 11. Which of the following tumours is the pathologist most likely suggesting?
Your Answer: Transitional cell carcinoma
Correct Answer: Wilms’ tumour
Explanation:Wilms’ tumour is one of the most common malignant tumours of childhood but it can also rarely be found in adults. In biopsy, classical histopathological findings include the triphasic pattern composed by blastemal, epithelial, and stromal elements. First symptoms in children include an abdominal palpable mass, while in adults pain and haematuria are the most common complaints. Deletions of tumours’ suppressor genes on chromosome 11 are usually associated with Wilms’ tumour.
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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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Passing through the lesser sciatic foramen are the:
Your Answer: Posterior cutaneous nerve of the thigh
Correct Answer: Pudendal nerve
Explanation:Structures that pass through the lesser sciatic foramen include:
– the pudendal nerve
– the nerve to obturator internus
– internal pudendal artery
– the tendon of obturator internus
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Pelvis
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Question 3
Incorrect
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A cancer patient was found to have a radio resistant tumour. Which tumour does the patient most likely have?
Your Answer: Medulloblastoma
Correct Answer: Liposarcoma
Explanation:Liposarcoma is a cancer that arises in fat cells in deep soft tissue. Commonly it occurs inside the thigh or retroperitoneum. It usually affects middle-aged and older adults, over 40 years. Liposarcoma is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma. It is very radio resistant. Five-year survival rates vary from 100% to 56% based on histological subtype.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neoplasia
- Pathology
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A patient who underwent emergency appendicectomy complains of having numbness (paraesthesia) of the skin at the pubic region. Which nerve was most likely injured in the operation?
Your Answer: Genitofemoral
Correct Answer: Iliohypogastric
Explanation:The iliohypogastric nerve comes from L1 and emerges from the upper part of the lateral border of the psoas major. It then crosses obliquely in front of the quadratus lumborum to the iliac crest where it perforates the posterior part of transversus abdominis and divides between that muscle and the internal oblique into a lateral and an anterior cutaneous branch. This provides sensory innervation to the skin of the lower abdominal wall, upper hip and upper thigh.
The genitofemoral nerve also comes from the lumbar plexus that innervates the skin of the anterior scrotum or labia majora and upper medial thigh.
The subcostal nerve is the ventral primary ramus of T12 providing sensory innervation to the anterolateral abdominal wall in an area superior to the pubic region.
A spinal nerve owing to their deep location would not have been injured in the procedure.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 5
Incorrect
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A 34-year-old woman is diagnosed with cerebral oedema after suffering a severe head trauma. Which of the following conditions is not likely to be associated with the extracellular oedema?
Your Answer: Lymphatic blockage
Correct Answer: Increased plasma colloid osmotic pressure
Explanation:Cerebral oedema is extracellular fluid accumulation in the brain. Increased capillary permeability, increased capillary pressure, increased interstitial fluid colloid osmotic pressure and lymphatic blockage would increase fluid movement into the interstitial spaces. Increased plasma colloid osmotic pressure, however, would oppose fluid movement from the capillaries into the interstitial compartment.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Fluids & Electrolytes
- Physiology
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Question 6
Incorrect
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A 70-year-old male who has smoked since his teens complains of progressive shortness of breath and a persistent cough. He is diagnosed with COPD. Which of the following abnormalities is most likely to be present in his pulmonary function tests?
Your Answer: Decreased total lung capacity
Correct Answer: Increased residual volume
Explanation:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a type of obstructive lung disease characterized by long-term poor airflow. The main symptoms include shortness of breath and cough with sputum production. The best diagnostic test for evaluating patients with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is lung function measured with spirometry. Key spirometrical measures may be obtained with a portable office spirometer and should include forced vital capacity (FVC) and the normal forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1). The ratio of FEV1 to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) normally exceeds 0.75. Patients with COPD typically present with obstructive airflow. Complete pulmonary function testing may show increased total lung capacity, functional residual capacity and residual volume. A substantial loss of lung surface area available for effective oxygen exchange causes diminished carbon monoxide diffusion in the lung (DLco) in patients with emphysema. Tobacco smoking is the most common cause of COPD, with factors such as air pollution and genetics playing a smaller role.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Respiratory
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Question 7
Incorrect
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During a splenectomy procedure of a 45-year old male patient with a bleeding ruptured spleen, the surgeon decided to clamp the splenic artery near the coeliac trunk to stop the bleeding. Which of the following organ/s parts will be least affected by the clamping?
Your Answer: Tail of the pancreas
Correct Answer: Duodenum
Explanation:The duodenum is the only organ in the list that would not be affect by the clumping of the splenic artery as it is supplied by common hepatic artery (through the gastroduodenal artery) and the superior mesenteric artery (through the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery). The splenic artery is the artery that supplies the spleen with oxygenated blood. The splenic artery before reaching the spleen also gives off branches that supply the stomach and the pancreas. The greater curvature and the fundus of the stomach is supplied the short gastric artery which branches off from the splenic artery. The left portion of the greater curvature of the stomach together with the greater omentum is supplied by the left gastro-omental artery of the splenic artery. The body and tail of the pancreas is supplied by branches of the splenic artery through the dorsal and superior pancreatic arteries and the caudal pancreatic arteries respectively.
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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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Which of these substances is secreted by pericytes in the juxtaglomerular cells?
Your Answer: Renin
Explanation:The juxtaglomerular cells synthesise, store and secrete the enzyme renin in the kidney. They are specialised smooth muscle cells in the wall of the afferent arteriole that delivers blood to the glomerulus and thus play a critical role in the renin– angiotensin system and so in renal autoregulation.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Physiology
- Renal
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Question 9
Incorrect
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A 20-year old college student was diagnosed with meningitis that had developed due to an acute cavernous sinus thrombosis from an ear infection. Which of the following superficial venous routes is the usual path that an infected blood clot takes to reach the cavernous sinus?
Your Answer: Superficial temporal vein
Correct Answer: Facial vein
Explanation:The facial vein is the usual communication between the cavernous sinus and the pterygoid sinus. It is through this vein that an infected clot can travel to the cavernous sinus and cause infection. The pterygoid plexus is a venous plexus that is situated between the temporalis muscle and lateral pterygoid muscle, and partly between the two pterygoid muscles. The pterygoid plexus is connected to the facial vein by the deep facial vein. This connection is what makes this area where this sinus and the facial vein are located a danger zone. The danger zone or triangle of the face is the area from the corners of the mouth to the nose bridge. The sinus connection in this area makes it possible for infection to reach the cavernous sinus and at times cause meningitis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 10
Correct
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Which of the following diseases can cause paraesthesia along the distribution of the median nerve of the hand, especially after activities which require flexion and extension of the wrist?
Your Answer: Carpal tunnel syndrome
Explanation:Carpal tunnel syndrome tends to occur in women between the ages of 30-50. There are many risk factors, including diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, pregnancy, and repetitive wrist work. Symptoms include pain in the hand and wrist, tingling, and numbness distributed along the median nerve (the palmar side of the thumb, the index and middle fingers, and the radial half of the ring finger), which worsens at night.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Orthopaedics
- Pathology
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Question 11
Correct
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An operation to resect a tumour of the right lung was stopped as the chest surgeon said that the tumour was crossing the oblique fissure. Which structures are separated by the oblique fissure of the right lung?
Your Answer: Lower lobe from both upper and middle lobes
Explanation:The oblique fissure on the right lung separates the lower lobe from both the middle and upper lobe. The lingual is only found on the left lung and is part of the upper lobe.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 12
Incorrect
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A elderly patient with bulbar palsy is bed ridden. While swallowing he aspirates one of his tablets into his lungs. In which bronchopulmonary segments is it most likely to end up?
Your Answer: Medial segmental bronchus of the right middle lobe
Correct Answer: Superior segmental bronchus of the right inferior lobe
Explanation:Inhaled objects are more likely to enter the right lung for several reasons. First the right bronchus is shorter, wider and more vertical than the left bronchus. Also, the carina (a ridge-like structure at the point of tracheal bifurcation) is set a little towards the left. The superior segmental bronchus branches posteriorly off the intermediate bronchus or the inferior lobe bronchus and is thus more likely to receive the foreign body that enters the right main bronchus. The lingula is only found on the left lung. The terminal bronchiole is a very small space almost impossible for the tablet to lodge here.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 13
Correct
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Which of the cranial nerves is responsible for touch sensation on the skin over the maxilla region and the mandible?
Your Answer: Trigeminal
Explanation:The sensation of the face is provided by the trigeminal nerve which is cranial nerve V. It is also responsible for other motor functions such as biting and chewing. The trigeminal nerve has three branches; the ophthalmic nerve (V1), the maxillary nerve((V2) and the mandibular nerve (V3). These three branches exit the skull through separate foramina, namely; the superior orbital fissure, the foramen rotundum and the foramen ovale respectively. The mnemonic for this is ‘Standing room only’. The sensory fibres of the maxillary nerve are distributed to the lower eyelid and cheek, the nares and upper lip, the upper teeth and gums, the nasal mucosa, the palate and roof of the pharynx, the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, and parts of the meninges. The sensory fibres of the mandibular nerve are distributed to the lower lip, the lower teeth and gums, the floor of the mouth, the anterior two-thirds of the tongue, the chin and jaw (except the angle of the jaw, which is supplied by C2–C3), parts of the external ear, and parts of the meninges. The mandibular nerve carries touch/ position and pain/temperature sensation from the mouth. The sensory fibres of the ophthalmic nerve are distributed to the scalp and forehead, the upper eyelid, the conjunctiva and cornea of the eye, the nose (including the tip of the nose), the nasal mucosa, the frontal sinuses and parts of the meninges (the dura and blood vessels). The sensory fibres of the maxillary nerve are distributed to the lower eyelid and cheek, the nares and upper lip, the upper teeth and gums, the nasal mucosa, the palate and roof of the pharynx, the maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses, and parts of the meninges.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Head & Neck
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Question 14
Incorrect
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A CT-scan report of a patient with gastric carcinoma shows that the lymph nodes around the coeliac trunk are enlarged. The coeliac trunk:
Your Answer: Give rise to the splenic, right gastric and common hepatic arteries
Correct Answer: Gives rise to the splenic, left gastric and common hepatic arteries
Explanation:The coeliac trunk is a branch of the aorta arising just below the aortic hiatus of the diaphragm to pass nearly horizontally forward to divide into 3 large branches i.e. the left gastric, the hepatic and the splenic arteries. Occasionally it may give off one of the inferior phrenic arteries. It is covered by the lesser omentum and on the right side bordered by the right coeliac ganglion and the cardiac end of the stomach. Inferiorly it is bordered by the upper border of the pancreas and splenic vein. The embryonic midgut is supplied by the superior mesenteric artery.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 15
Incorrect
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Which of the following will show decreased hearing when tested by air conduction but normal hearing when tested by bone conduction?
Your Answer: Destruction of the cochlea
Correct Answer: Fibrosis causing fixation of the ossicles
Explanation:As the cochlea is embedded into bone, the vibrations from the bone are transmitted directly to the fluid in the cochlea. Hence, any damage to the ossicles or tympanic membrane will not show an abnormal result on bone conduction test.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neurology
- Physiology
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Question 16
Correct
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What occurs during cellular atrophy?
Your Answer: Cell size decreases
Explanation:Atrophy is the decrease in the size of cells, tissues, or organs. There are several causes including inadequate nutrition, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support or nerve supply, disuse, lack of exercise, or disease. An increase in cell size is termed hypertrophy which is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cell Injury & Wound Healing; Urology
- Pathology
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Question 17
Correct
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One of the following structures is contained in the anterior compartment of the lower leg. Which is it?
Your Answer: Extensor hallucis muscle
Explanation:The lower leg is made up of four fascial compartments separated from one another by septa that contain the muscles of the lower leg. The four compartments are ; anterior, lateral, deep posterior and superficial posterior compartments.
These are the compartments and there contents:
i) Anterior compartment: Tibialis anterior muscle, extensor hallucis longus muscle, extensor digitorum longus muscle, peroneus tertius muscles, deep fibular nerve and anterior tibial blood vessels
ii) Lateral compartment: Fibularis longus muscle, brevis muscles and superficial fibular nerve
iii) Deep posterior compartment: Tibialis posterior m., flexor hallucis longus m., flexor digitorum longus m. ,popliteus m. , tibial nerve, posterior tibial artery and posterior tibial vessels such as the fibular artery.
iv) Superficial posterior compartment: Gastrocnemius m., soleus m., plantaris m., medial sural cutaneous nerve
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Lower Limb
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Question 18
Incorrect
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Which of the following brings about a reduction in gastric blood flow?
Your Answer: Vagal stimulation
Correct Answer: Vasopressin
Explanation:Gastric blood flow is increased by vagal stimulation, gastrin, histamine and acetylcholine as they stimulate gastric section and the production of vasodilator metabolites. Acetylcholine and histamine also have a direct action on the gastric arterioles. Similarly, gastric blood flow is reduced by inhibitors of secretion – catecholamines, secretin and vasopressin.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Gastroenterology
- Physiology
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Question 19
Correct
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Which muscle would be affected most following injury to the transverse cervical artery?
Your Answer: Trapezius
Explanation:The latissimus dorsi receives blood from the thoracodorsal artery, the supraspinatus receives its blood from the suprascapular artery, the levator scapulae and the rhomboids are supplied by the dorsal scapular artery and the transverse cervical artery supplies blood to the trapezius.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 20
Correct
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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) = 80–100 fl, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) = 31–37 g/dl. Which of the following is correct regarding this patient’s erythrocytes:
Your Answer: Normal MCV
Explanation:MCV is the mean corpuscular volume and it is calculated from the haematocrit and the RBC count. It is normally 90 fl. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) [g/dl] = haemoglobin [g/dl]/haematocrit = 11/0.27 = 41 g/dl and is higher than normal range (32 to 36 g/dL).
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This question is part of the following fields:
- General
- Physiology
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Question 21
Correct
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An X ray of a 60 year old male brought to the accident and emergency following a fall down stairs shows a fractured olecranon process of the right ulna with the line of fracture passing through the superior surface, disrupting a muscle. Which among the following muscles was most likely injured?
Your Answer: Triceps brachii
Explanation:The superior surface of the olecranon process forms an attachment for the insertion of the triceps brachii on the posterior aspect. It also has a minor transverse groove for the attachment of part of the posterior ligament of the elbow on the anterior aspect.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A cerebellar tremor can be differentiated from a Parkinsonian tremor in that:
Your Answer: It is decreased during activity
Correct Answer: It only occurs during voluntary movements
Explanation:Cerebellar disease leads to intention tremors, which is absent at rest and appears at the onset of voluntary movements. In comparison, Parkinson’s tremor is present at rest. Frequency of tremor is a less reliable means to differentiate between the two as the oscillation amplitude of the tremor is not constant throughout a voluntary action.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Neurology
- Physiology
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Question 23
Incorrect
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Which of the following malignancies is associated with the development of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome?
Your Answer: Pheochromocytoma
Correct 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 24
Correct
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Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has less side effects than heparin and is used in the prophylaxis and treatment of venous and arterial thrombotic disorders. Which of the following is LMWHs mechanism of action?
Your Answer: Inhibition of factor Xa
Explanation:Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is a anticoagulant that differs from normal heparin in that it has only short chains of polysaccharide. LMWH inhibits thrombin formation by converting antithrombin from a slow to a rapid inactivator of coagulation factor Xa.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Haematology
- Pathology
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Question 25
Correct
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Which among the following vertebrae marks the lowest extent of the superior mediastinum?
Your Answer: Fourth thoracic
Explanation:The superior mediastinum lies between the manubrium anteriorly and the upper vertebrae of the thorax posteriorly. Below, it is bound by a slightly oblique plane that passes backward from the sternal angle to the lower part of the body of T4 and laterally by the pleura.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Thorax
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Question 26
Correct
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A 38-year old woman presents to the clinic with a 2 cm eczema-like lesion on the areolar region of her left breast, for 5 months. Biopsy of the lesion showed large cells at the dermal-epidermal junction with positive staining for mucin. What is the likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Paget’s disease of the breast
Explanation:Paget’s disease of the breast or nipple resembles eczema in appearance with an underlying carcinoma typically. The disease is usually unilateral and presents with inflammation, oozing and crusting along with a non-healing ulcer. Treatment is often delayed due to the innocuous appearance but can be fatal. It results due to spread of neoplastic cells from the ducts of the mammary gland to the epithelium.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Pathology
- Women's Health
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Question 27
Correct
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What is the nerve supply of the muscle that is inserted onto the crest of the lesser tubercle of the humerus?
Your Answer: Lower subscapular
Explanation:The muscle is the subscapularis muscle which is supplied by the lower subscapular nerve.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Upper Limb
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Question 28
Incorrect
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Infection to all of the following will lead to enlargement of the superficial inguinal lymph nodes, except for:
Your Answer: Dorsum of the foot
Correct Answer: Ampulla of the rectum
Explanation:The superficial inguinal lymph nodes form a chain immediately below the inguinal ligament. They receive lymphatic supply from the skin of the penis, scrotum, perineum, buttock and abdominal wall below the level of the umbilicus.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Anatomy
- Lower Limb
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Question 29
Incorrect
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During clinic, a medical student conducts a physical examination on a teenage boy with a lump in the inguinal region. The lump is protruding from the superficial inguinal ring. The student correctly concluded that it was:
Your Answer: Possibly an enlarged superficial inguinal lymph node
Correct Answer: Either a direct or an indirect inguinal hernia
Explanation:It is not possible to tell if an inguinal hernia is direct or indirect just by palpating it. Despite the fact that indirect inguinal hernias commonly come out of the superficial inguinal ring to enter the scrotum, direct inguinal hernia might still do this.
Femoral hernia goes through the femoral ring into the femoral canal (has nothing to do with the superficial inguinal ring).
Superficial inguinal lymph nodes lie in the superficial fascia parallel to the inguinal ligament; it would therefore feel more superficial and would not be mistaken for a hernia protruding through the inguinal ring.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Abdomen
- Anatomy
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Question 30
Correct
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A 30 year old man suffered severe blood loss, approx. 20-30% of his blood volume. What changes are most likely seen in the pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) respectively following this decrease in cardiac output?
Your Answer: Increase Decrease
Explanation:Hypovolemia will result in the activation of the sympathetic adrenal discharge resulting is a decrease pulmonary artery pressure and an elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Cardiovascular
- Physiology
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