9 USMLE Anatomy and Embryology Questions with Answers (Set 2)

These 9 quick USMLE review questions test high-yield facts that show up again and again on the exam: the anterior spinal artery, ear innervation, bicornuate uterus, the shoulder, C8 nerve root, the stomach, lymph node zones, the urachus and mitochondria. Each question includes the correct answer.

Written by Dr. Ray Makar, MD, author of the Repeated USMLE Questions eBook series.

Prefer video? Watch daily USMLE case questions on MedFocus by Dr. Ray on YouTube.

How to use this page: read the question, pick your answer, then tap Show Answer and Explanation.

Questions

Question 1. Anterior spinal artery arises from which of the following arteries?

A- Basilar artery
B- External carotid artery
C- Internal carotid artery
D- Vertebral artery

D- Vertebral artery- The bilateral vertebral arteries combine to form the anterior spinal artery at the level of foramen magnum.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 2. Sensations to the external auditory meatus is innervated by which of the following nerves?

A- Auriculotemporal nerve
B- Great auricular nerve
C- Facial nerve
D- Vagus nerve

D- Vagus nerve- A and B innervate the lobule of the auricle, facial is only motor.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 3. Bicornuate uterus results from failure of the fusion of which of the following structures?

A- Mesonephric ducts
B- Nephrogenic ridges
C- Paramesonephric ducts
D- Urogenital sinus

C- Paramesonephric ducts- Uterus is developed by the fusion of the caudal ends of the paramesonephric ducts.
The correct answer is C

 

Question 4. Which of the following is considered a dynamic stabilizer of the glenohumeral joint?

A- Coracohumeral ligament
B- Glenoid fossa
C- Inferior glenohumeral ligament
D- Subscapularis muscle

D- Subscapularis muscle- It is the only dynamic stabilizer of the above choices. Other choices are static stabilizers.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 5. A young man complains of little finger numbness and difficulty gripping things. Which of the following is the affected nerve root?

A- Cervical 5
B- Cervical 6
C- Cervical 7
D- Cervical 8

D- Cervical 8- sensation of the little finger and hand grip are attributed to Cervical 8 nerve root.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 6. Which of the following parts of the stomach has a dome-shaped appearance and lies superior to the lower end of esophagus?

A- Antrum
B- Body
C- Fundus
D- Pylorus

C- Fundus- While the proximal part of the stomach is the cardia followed by the fundus which is the dome-shaped portion of the stomach.
The correct answer is C

 

Question 7. Which one of the following parts of the lymph nodes has T lymphocytes as the predominant cell?

A- Cortex
B- Germinal center
C- Medulla
D- Paracortex

D- Paracortex- The cortex is composed of primary and secondary follicles, the germinal center contains B lymphocytes and the medulla contains plasma cells and small lymphocytes.
The correct answer is D

 

Question 8. Failure of degeneration of the urachus may lead to which of the following defects?

A- Bladder adenocarcinoma
B- Bladder exstrophy
C- Polycystic kidney disease
D- Renal agenesis

A-Bladder adenocarcinoma- Persistent urachus creates a fistula between the bladder and umbilicus and gives rise to cysts which are potential sites of bladder adenocarcinoma.
The correct answer is A

 

Question 9. Mitochondria are NOT found in which of the following organisms?

A- Fungi
B- Protozoa
C- Viruses
D- Yeasts

C- Viruses- There is no mitochondria in bacteria or viruses.
The correct answer is C

 

High-yield points from this set

  • The anterior spinal artery comes from the vertebral arteries.
  • Bicornuate uterus = incomplete fusion of the paramesonephric (Mullerian) ducts.
  • C8 supplies the little finger and grip.
  • T cells are in the paracortex of lymph nodes; B cells in the follicles.

Keep practicing

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