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All
questions provided by Kaplan Test Prep.

1. A 32-year-old construction worker arrives in the
emergency department after an accident on the job. The tendon of the biceps
brachii at the elbow has been severed by a laceration that extends 2 cm medially
from the tendon. Which of the following structures is likely to have been injured
by medial extension of the laceration?
(A) Brachial artery
(B) Musculocutaneous nerve
(C) Profunda brachii artery
(D) Radial nerve
(E) Ulnar nerve
1.
The correct answer is A. The brachial artery is immediately medial to the
tendon of the biceps brachii at the elbow. As the artery enters the forearm,
it is covered by the bicipital aponeurosis, a broadening of the biceps tendon.
The musculocutaneous nerve
(choice B) does not cross the elbow.
The musculocutaneous nerve gives off all of its muscular branches to muscles
in the arm. The remainder of the nerve is then renamed the lateral cutaneous
nerve of the forearm, which passes the elbow lateral to the tendon of the biceps.
The profunda brachii artery
(choice C) arises from the brachial
artery in the proximal part of the arm. It accompanies the radial artery in
the musculospiral groove and then divides into the radial collateral artery
and middle collateral artery, which cross the elbow lateral to the tendon of
the biceps.
The radial nerve (choice
D) lies within the musculospiral groove along the back of the humerus, then
passes between the brachioradialis muscle and the brachialis muscle at the elbow,
lateral to the tendon of the biceps.
The ulnar nerve (choice
E) crosses the elbow posterior to the medial epicondyle of the humerus.
It then passes between the two heads of the flexor carpi ulnaris and courses
through the forearm deep to this muscle.
2. A genotypic male (XY) is born with feminized external
genitalia. The testes are retained within the abdominal cavity, and the internal
reproductive tracts exhibit the normal male phenotype. Which of the following
could account for this abnormal development?
(A) Complete androgen resistance
(B) 5a-reductase deficiency
(C) 17a-hydroxylase deficiency
(D) Sertoli-only syndrome
(E) Testicular dysgenesis
2. The correct answer is B. In utero differentiation
of the Wolffian ducts into the normal male phenotypic internal reproductive
tract requires testosterone, but not dihydrotestosterone. On the other hand,
differentiation of the indifferent external genital slit into the penis, prostate,
and scrotum does require dihydrotestosterone. A congenital absence of 5a-reductase
in these tissues will result in feminization. If left untreated, the affected
individuals are generally phenotypic females until puberty, at which time increased
amounts of testosterone result in virilization ("penis-at-twelve"
syndrome). If discovered early, a male gender assignment can be supported with
administration of dihydrotestosterone to increase penis size. If discovered
after infancy, a female gender assignment can be supported with estrogen substitution
therapy and prophylactic orchiectomy.
With complete androgen resistance (choice
A), the external genitalia are feminized, but neither the male-type nor
the female-type internal tracts develop. In the absence of the androgen receptor,
the Wolffian ducts will degenerate. The Müllerian ducts will also degenerate
because of the normal effect of testicular Müllerian regression factor.
With 17a-hydroxylase deficiency (choice
C), the testes cannot synthesize testosterone, resulting in feminization
of the external genitalia and degeneration of the Wolffian ducts. Normal secretion
of Müllerian regression factor should also cause the degeneration of the Müllerian
ducts. Because of the excessive secretion of deoxycorticosterone by the adrenal
cortex, these individuals are usually hypertensive.
The Sertoli-only syndrome (choice
D) refers to the situation in which only the Sertoli cells of the seminiferous
tubules are present (germinal cell aplasia). Spermatogenesis is absent in these
individuals, who also show increased plasma levels of FSH because of decreased
Sertoli cell secretion of inhibin. They may exhibit both male-type and female-type
internal tracts because of the absence of Müllerian regression factor. The Leydig
cells, however, have normal function and result in normal secretion of testosterone,
so that both male-type internal tracts and external genitalia develop.
Testicular dysgenesis (choice E) results in
poor in utero development of the testes with concomitantly decreased secretion
of testosterone and Müllerian regression factor. The Wolffian duct structures
may degenerate, and the external genitalia may be feminized. Female-type internal
tracts may develop because of the decreased secretion of Müllerian regression
factor.
3. A 24-year-old AIDS patient develops chronic abdominal
pain, low-grade fever, diarrhea, and malabsorption. Oocysts are demonstrated
in the stool. Which of the following organisms is most likely to be the cause
of the patient’s diarrhea?
(A) Diphyllobothrium latum
(B) Entamoeba histolytica
(C) Giardia lamblia
(D) Isospora belli
(E) Microsporidia
3. The correct answer is D. All the organisms
listed are protozoa. There are two intestinal protozoa specifically associated
with AIDS that can cause transient diarrhea in immunocompetent individuals but
can cause debilitating, and potentially life-threatening, chronic diarrhea in
AIDS patients. These organisms are Isospora belli, treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
or other folate antagonists) and Cryptosporidium parvum (no treatment currently
available).
Diphyllobothrium latum (choice A) is the fish
tapeworm and occasionally causes diarrhea.
Entamoeba histolytica (choice B) and Giardia
lamblia (choice C) are both causes of diarrhea, but they are not specifically
associated with AIDS.
Microsporidia (choice E) are a protozoan cause
of diarrhea but produce spores rather than oocysts.
4. A 28-year-old man decides to donate a kidney to
his brother, who is in chronic renal failure, after HLA typing suggests that
he would be a suitable donor. He is admitted to the hospital, and his right
kidney is removed and transplanted into his brother. Which of the following
indices would be expected to be decreased in the donor after full recovery from
the operation?
(A) Creatinine clearance
(B) Creatinine production
(C) Daily excretion of sodium
(D) Plasma creatinine concentration
(E) Renal excretion of creatinine
4. The correct
answer is A. Because creatinine is freely filtered by the glomerulus, but
not secreted or reabsorbed to a significant extent, the renal clearance of creatinine
is approximately equal to the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In fact, creatinine
clearance is commonly used to assess renal function in the clinical setting.
When a kidney is removed, the total glomerular filtration rate decreases because
50% of the nephrons have been removed, which causes the creatinine clearance
to decrease. In turn, the plasma creatinine concentration (choice D) increases until
the rate of creatinine excretion by the kidneys (choice E) is equal to the rate of creatinine production by the body.
Recall that creatinine excretion = GFR x plasma creatinine concentration. Therefore,
creatinine excretion is normal when GFR is decreased following removal of a
kidney because the plasma concentration of creatinine is elevated.
Creatinine is a waste product of metabolism. Creatinine
production (choice B) is directly related to the muscle mass of an individual,
but is independent of renal function.
The daily excretion of sodium (choice
C) is unaffected by the removal of a kidney. The amount of sodium excreted
each day by the remaining kidney exactly matches the amount of sodium entering
the body in the diet.
5. Bilateral ovarian masses are identified on pelvic
examination of a 40-year-old woman. Ultrasound examination reveals multiloculated
cystic masses involving both ovaries. The patient is treated with total abdominal
hysterectomy with removal of both adnexa. Pathologic examination demonstrates
papillary carcinoma producing serous fluid. Which of the following tumor markers
would be most useful in monitoring for recurrence?
(A) Alpha-fetoprotein
(B) Bombesin
(C) CA-125
(D) PSA
(E) S-100
5. The correct
answer is C. The tumors are serous papillary cystadenocarcinomas of the
ovaries. These tumors express CA-125 and are apparently derived from the surface
epithelium of the ovaries.
Alpha-fetoprotein (choice
A) is not produced by this type of ovarian tumor but can be produced by
testicular tumors and, less commonly, by ovarian tumors with a yolk sac tumor
component.
Bombesin (choice B) is a marker for neuroblastoma,
small cell carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, and pancreatic carcinoma.
PSA (choice D) is a marker for prostatic carcinoma.
S-100 (choice E) is a marker for melanoma, neural
tumors, and astrocytomas.
6. In a normal individual, a tube with a transducer
at its tip is swallowed and passed an unknown distance down the esophagus. Between
swallows it records a pressure of 25 mm Hg. A small amount of water is swallowed.
Within 2 seconds, the pressure falls to 5 mm Hg, where it remains until returning
to its resting pressure 6 seconds later. In a patient with achalasia, the transducer
is advanced to the same location. Between swallows, it records a pressure of
30 mm Hg. After swallowing, the pressure fails to decrease at all. In which
of the following sites is the transducer most likely located?
(A) Esophageal body distal to the diaphragm
(B) Esophageal body proximal to the diaphragm
(C) Lower esophageal sphincter
(D) Pharynx
(E) Upper esophageal sphincter
6. The correct
answer is C. Achalasia is an acquired esophageal motility disorder that
is characterized by loss of enteric inhibitory neurons. The lower esophageal
sphincter may exhibit increased tone in between swallows and fail to relax normally
with a swallow. Peristalsis in the esophageal body is also abnormal. A swallow
may not induce any peristalsis in the esophageal body or may produce simultaneous
contractions along its entire length.
The esophageal body distal to the diaphragm (choice
A) is relaxed in between swallows. The intraesophageal pressure at this
point reflects the intra-abdominal pressure, which is slightly positive (5 mm
Hg). During inspiration, the pressure inside the distal esophagus rises along
with the intra-abdominal pressure; during expiration this pressure falls. The
pressure in the esophageal body proximal to the diaphragm (choice B) reflects the intrathoracic pressure. It is slightly negative
at the end of inspiration and slightly positive at the end of expiration.
Since the mouth and pharynx are open to the atmosphere,
in between swallows, the pressure within the pharynx (choice
D) is atmospheric (0 mm Hg). The pressure rises abruptly to a maximum of
100 mm Hg at the start of a swallow and returns to baseline within 0.5 seconds.
At rest, the pressure in the upper esophageal sphincter
(choice E) can be as high as 60 mm
Hg. It is maintained by the normal elasticity of the sphincteric structures,
as well as by active contraction of the cricopharyngeal muscle, which composes
most of the sphincter. Shortly after the pharyngeal muscles contract during
a swallow, the upper esophageal sphincter relaxes as the tonic neural input
to the cricopharyngeal muscle (skeletal muscle) is inhibited as part of the
swallowing program. Function of this sphincter is unaffected by achalasia.
7. A 54-year-old man with extensive, severe atherosclerosis
sustains a thrombotic occlusion of the celiac trunk. The organs that receive
their blood supply from this artery continue to function normally. Anastomoses
between which of the following pairs of arteries would explain this phenomenon?
(A) Left gastric artery and right gastric artery
(B) Left gastroepiploic artery and right gastroepiploic
artery
(C) Proper hepatic artery and gastroduodenal artery
(D) Right colic artery and middle colic artery
(E) Superior pancreaticoduodenal artery and inferior
pancreaticoduodenal artery
7. The correct
answer is E. The superior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch of the
gastroduodenal artery, which is a branch of the common hepatic artery, itself
a branch of the celiac trunk. The inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is a branch
of the superior mesenteric artery. Occlusion of the celiac trunk would allow
blood from the superior mesenteric artery to reach the branches of the celiac
trunk via the connections between the superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal
arteries.
Both the left and right gastric arteries (choice
A) receive their blood from the celiac trunk. The left gastric artery is
a direct branch of the celiac trunk. The right gastric artery is usually a branch
of the proper hepatic artery, which is a branch of the common hepatic artery
(a branch of the celiac trunk).
Both the left and right gastroepiploic arteries
(choice B) receive their blood supply from the celiac trunk. The left gastroepiploic
artery is a branch of the splenic artery, which is a branch of the celiac trunk.
The right gastroepiploic artery is a branch of the gastroduodenal artery, which
is a branch of the common hepatic artery (a branch of the celiac trunk).
The proper hepatic and gastroduodenal arteries (choice
C) are branches of the common hepatic artery, which is a branch of the celiac
trunk.
The right colic and middle colic arteries (choice
D) are both branches of the superior mesenteric artery.
8. A 54-year-old man presents to the emergency department
with intense pain in his right eye. Examination reveals a red ring surrounding
his iris and elevated intraocular pressure in the same eye. After obtaining
a careful history with the aid of the man’s wife, the emergency room physician
concludes that this episode was triggered by which of the following agents?
(A) Amitriptyline
(B) Cimetidine
(C) Diazepam
(D) Malathion
(E) Propranolol
8. The correct answer is A. There are three
facts that are necessary to answer this question: what disease the patient is
suffering from, what pharmacological properties can trigger an attack, and what
drug has these pharmacological properties. The patient described is suffering
from an attack of acute or narrow angle glaucoma. These attacks can be precipitated
by drugs with anticholinergic actions because muscarinic receptors on the pupillary
constrictor muscle of the iris are blocked. This causes pupillary dilation,
which further “narrows” the angle in the anterior chamber of the eye. Amitriptyline
is a tricyclic antidepressant with significant anticholinergic side effects.
Cimetidine (choice B)
is an H2 antagonist that reduces gastric acid release. Its trade
name is Tagamet and it is now available over the counter. It has no significant
anticholinergic side effects.
Diazepam (choice
C) is a benzodiazepine. Its trade name is Valium and it has no significant
anticholinergic side effects.
Malathion (choice
D) is an organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitor that is used as an insecticide.
This agent would increase levels of acetylcholine, thereby widening the angle.
Propranolol (choice E) is a non-selective, beta-adrenergic
antagonist. If anything, it would help to prevent an attack by blocking beta-receptors
on the ciliary body, thereby diminishing aqueous humor production.
9. While lying supine in bed eating, a child aspirates
a peanut. Which of the following bronchopulmonary segments would this foreign
object most likely enter?
(A) Apical segment of the left upper lobe
(B) Apical segment of the right upper lobe
(C) Medial segment of the right middle lobe
(D) Posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe
(E) Superior segment of the right lower lobe
9.
The correct answer is E. Because the right main bronchus is wider and more
vertical than the left, foreign objects are more likely to be aspirated into
the right main bronchus. The superior segmental bronchus of the lower lobar
bronchus is the only segmental bronchus that exits from the posterior wall of
the lobar bronchi. Therefore, if a patient is supine at the time of aspiration,
the object is most likely to enter the superior segmental bronchus of the lower
lobe.
None of the segmental bronchi
of the left lung (choices A and D)
are likely to receive the object because the object is less likely to enter
the left main bronchus.
The apical segment of the
right upper lobe (choice B) is not
likely to receive the foreign object because of the sharp angle that the upper
lobar bronchus makes with the right main bronchus, and the sharp angle that
the apical segmental bronchus makes with the lobar bronchus.
The medial segmental bronchus
of the right middle lobe (choice C) arises from the anterior wall of the right middle lobar
bronchus. Therefore, when the patient is supine, the effect of gravity will
tend to prevent the object from entering this segmental bronchus.
10. A 47-year-old man with a history of sickle cell
disease has had numerous hospitalizations requiring the placement of IV lines.
The patient has poor peripheral venous access, and a catheter is placed in right
subclavian vein. The patient subsequently develops right arm discomfort and
swelling and a temperature of 40.1 C with chills. Multiple blood cultures are
taken, and gram-positive cocci are isolated. The organism is catalase positive
and grows on mannitol salt agar, but does not turn the agar yellow; the colonies
are gamma-hemolytic on a sheep blood agar plate. Which of the following organisms
is the most likely cause of this patient’s symptoms?
(A) Enterococcus faecalis
(B) Staphylococcus aureus
(C) Staphylococcus epidermidis
(D) Streptococcus agalactiae
(E) Streptococcus pyogenes
10. The correct answer is C. The patient has
developed bacteremia; the description of the causative agent is consistent with
a staphylococcal organism (catalase positive, gram-positive cocci that grow
on mannitol salt agar). The organism is most likely Staphylococcus epidermidis
as it was not able to ferment mannitol and was not hemolytic. Both of these
characteristics tend to rule out Staphylococcus aureus (choice B). Two other tests that are
commonly used are coagulase production and excretion of DNAse from colonies.
S. aureus is positive in both tests, S. epidermidis is negative.
Enterococcus faecalis(choice A) might grow
on the mannitol salt agar as it is relatively haloduric but these organisms
are catalase negative. The enterococci are extremely variable in hemolytic ability
so this characteristic is not useful in species identification.
Both streptococcal organisms (choices D and E)
are catalase negative and beta-hemolytic on sheep blood agar plates. Also,
neither would grow on the mannitol salt agar. Streptococcus pyogenes is sensitive to growth inhibition by bacitracin,
whereas Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococci) is not.
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