Anatomy flashcards for NEET PG
79 cards. Read the question, answer in your head, then check. For spaced repetition, study the deck in the app.
What this deck is for
These 79 cards pick out single facts in Anatomy that the exam keeps returning to: Upper limb, Larynx, Skull foramina, Spinal reflexes, Lower limb, Thorax and more. Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Cards are a starting set, not full coverage of the subject; the study guide lists the full map.
Where students slip in Anatomy: Mixing up the layer of origin of a nerve with its root value. Read the Anatomy study guide.
1 · Upper limb
Which muscles form the rotator cuff?
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Supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, subscapularis.
Memory hook: SITS
2 · Upper limb
Which nerve winds around the surgical neck of the humerus?
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The axillary nerve (C5–C6), with the posterior circumflex humeral vessels.
Memory hook: Fracture here, think deltoid.
3 · Larynx
Which is the only abductor of the vocal cords?
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Posterior cricoarytenoid, supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.
Memory hook: The only muscle that opens the airway.
4 · Skull foramina
Which cranial nerve divisions leave through the superior orbital fissure, foramen rotundum and foramen ovale?
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V1, V2 and V3 respectively.
Memory hook: Orbital, Rotundum, Ovale: 1, 2, 3.
5 · Spinal reflexes
Segmental values of knee jerk and ankle jerk?
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Knee jerk L3–L4; ankle jerk S1–S2.
Memory hook: L3, 4 kick the door; S1, 2 buckle my shoe.
6 · Lower limb
Which nerve supplies the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg?
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The deep fibular (peroneal) nerve.
Memory hook: Anterior: deep. Lateral: superficial.
7 · Thorax
Where does the thoracic duct drain?
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At the junction of the left internal jugular and left subclavian veins.
Memory hook: The left venous angle.
8 · Abdomen
What forms the boundaries of the epiploic foramen?
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In front, the hepatoduodenal ligament (portal triad); behind, the IVC; above, the caudate lobe; below, the first part of the duodenum.
Memory hook: Pringle's manoeuvre compresses the portal triad here.
9 · Head and neck
Which nerve is at risk in surgery of the posterior triangle of the neck?
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The spinal accessory nerve (XI), which supplies trapezius and sternocleidomastoid.
Memory hook: Shoulder drop after neck surgery.
10 · Neuroanatomy
Which arteries supply the motor and sensory areas of the leg and of the face and arm?
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Anterior cerebral artery: leg. Middle cerebral artery: face and arm.
Memory hook: ACA: leg. MCA: face and arm.
11 · General anatomy and histology
Which epithelium lines the renal pelvis, ureter and urinary bladder?
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Transitional epithelium (urothelium).
Memory hook: Stretchy lining for a stretchy tract.
12 · General anatomy and histology
Which epithelium lines the trachea?
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Pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium with goblet cells.
Memory hook: Cilia sweep mucus upward.
13 · General anatomy and histology
Which epithelium lines the oesophagus?
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Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium.
Memory hook: Built for abrasion from food.
14 · General anatomy and histology
Which type of cartilage forms intervertebral discs and the pubic symphysis?
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Fibrocartilage.
Memory hook: Strong under compression.
15 · General anatomy and histology
Which cell junction gives the strongest mechanical adhesion between cells?
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The desmosome (macula adherens), anchored to intermediate filaments.
Memory hook: Spot welds.
16 · General anatomy and histology
Which junction allows direct passage of ions between adjacent cells?
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The gap junction, formed by connexons.
Memory hook: Electrical coupling in cardiac muscle.
17 · General anatomy and histology
Which is the largest sesamoid bone in the body?
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The patella, within the quadriceps tendon.
18 · General anatomy and histology
What type of joint is the first carpometacarpal joint?
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A saddle (sellar) joint, allowing opposition of the thumb.
19 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Which nerve is injured in a mid-shaft fracture of the humerus and what is the deficit?
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The radial nerve in the spiral groove, causing wrist drop.
Memory hook: Spiral groove, wrist drop.
20 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Which roots are injured in Erb's palsy and what is the posture?
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C5 and C6 (upper trunk); the arm hangs adducted and medially rotated with the forearm pronated (waiter's tip).
Memory hook: Waiter wants a tip.
21 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Which roots are injured in Klumpke's palsy and what is the classic finding?
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C8 and T1 (lower trunk); claw hand, sometimes with Horner's syndrome.
Memory hook: Lower trunk, small hand muscles.
22 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Injury to which nerve causes a winged scapula?
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The long thoracic nerve (C5-C7) to serratus anterior.
Memory hook: Often after axillary node clearance.
23 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Which nerve is related to the posterior aspect of the medial epicondyle, and what is the sign of its injury?
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The ulnar nerve; claw hand and a positive Froment's sign.
Memory hook: The funny bone.
24 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
What passes through the carpal tunnel?
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The median nerve and nine flexor tendons (four FDS, four FDP, FPL).
Memory hook: The ulnar nerve and artery pass superficial to it.
25 · Upper limb and brachial plexus
Which carpal bone lies in the floor of the anatomical snuffbox?
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The scaphoid (with the trapezium); the radial artery crosses it.
Memory hook: Tenderness here after a fall: scaphoid.
26 · Lower limb
Which nerve is injured at the neck of the fibula and what is the deficit?
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The common fibular nerve; foot drop with loss of dorsiflexion and eversion.
Memory hook: Steppage gait.
27 · Lower limb
Which nerve supplies gluteus medius and minimus, and what sign follows its injury?
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The superior gluteal nerve; a positive Trendelenburg sign.
Memory hook: Pelvis sags on the unsupported side.
28 · Lower limb
Which nerve supplies the quadriceps femoris?
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The femoral nerve (L2-L4).
Memory hook: Loss of knee extension.
29 · Lower limb
Which nerve supplies the adductor group of the thigh?
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The obturator nerve (L2-L4).
Memory hook: Adductors, with the adductor magnus hamstring part from the sciatic nerve.
30 · Lower limb
What is the order of structures in the femoral triangle from lateral to medial?
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Nerve, artery, vein, empty space, lymphatics.
Memory hook: NAVEL
31 · Lower limb
Which artery is the main supply to the femoral head and neck?
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The medial circumflex femoral artery; its damage risks avascular necrosis.
Memory hook: Intracapsular neck fracture is the risk.
32 · Lower limb
Which ligament prevents anterior displacement of the tibia on the femur?
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The anterior cruciate ligament; tested by the anterior drawer and Lachman tests.
Memory hook: ACL stops the tibia sliding forward.
33 · Thorax
Where does the azygos vein drain?
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Into the superior vena cava at about T4.
Memory hook: It arches over the right lung root.
34 · Thorax
Which artery supplies the posterior interventricular (descending) branch in a right-dominant heart?
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The right coronary artery.
Memory hook: Dominance is defined by the PDA origin.
35 · Thorax
Which coronary artery supplies the anterior two-thirds of the interventricular septum?
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The left anterior descending artery.
Memory hook: The widow-maker.
36 · Thorax
How does the right main bronchus differ from the left?
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It is wider, shorter and more vertical, so aspirated objects lodge there more often.
Memory hook: Foreign bodies go right.
37 · Thorax
What is the root value and course of the phrenic nerve?
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C3-C5; it descends on the anterior surface of scalenus anterior.
Memory hook: C3, 4, 5 keeps the diaphragm alive.
38 · Thorax
What is the order of structures in the intercostal neurovascular bundle from above downward?
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Vein, artery, nerve, lying in the subcostal groove.
Memory hook: VAN
39 · Thorax
Which structure separates the smooth and rough parts of the right atrial wall?
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The crista terminalis (sinus venarum smooth, pectinate muscles rough).
Memory hook: External marker: sulcus terminalis.
40 · Thorax
Which structure marks the sternal angle and at which vertebral level?
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The manubriosternal joint at the second costal cartilage, level with T4-T5.
Memory hook: Count ribs from here.
41 · Abdomen and pelvis
What are the boundaries of Hesselbach's triangle?
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Inferior epigastric vessels laterally, lateral border of rectus abdominis medially, inguinal ligament below.
Memory hook: Direct hernias bulge here.
42 · Abdomen and pelvis
How do direct and indirect inguinal hernias relate to the inferior epigastric vessels?
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Direct is medial to them; indirect is lateral, through the deep ring.
Memory hook: Indirect enters the deep ring.
43 · Abdomen and pelvis
What are the vertebral levels of the coeliac trunk, SMA and IMA?
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T12, L1 and L3 respectively.
Memory hook: 12, 1, 3.
44 · Abdomen and pelvis
Name the sites of portosystemic anastomosis.
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Lower oesophagus, upper anal canal, paraumbilical region and retroperitoneum (colon, liver bare area).
Memory hook: Cause of varices, haemorrhoids, caput medusae.
45 · Abdomen and pelvis
Where is the portal vein formed?
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Behind the neck of the pancreas by the superior mesenteric and splenic veins.
Memory hook: L1-L2 level.
46 · Abdomen and pelvis
What is the relation of the ureter to the uterine artery?
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The uterine artery crosses above the ureter in the broad ligament base.
Memory hook: Water under the bridge.
47 · Abdomen and pelvis
What are the three anatomical constrictions of the ureter?
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Pelviureteric junction, crossing the pelvic brim, and vesicoureteric junction.
Memory hook: Sites where stones lodge.
48 · Abdomen and pelvis
Which is the most dependent peritoneal pouch in the female pelvis?
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The rectouterine pouch (pouch of Douglas).
Memory hook: Pus collects here; reached via posterior fornix.
49 · Head and neck
Which foramen transmits the middle meningeal artery, and what injury is linked to it?
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Foramen spinosum; pterion fracture tears it causing extradural haematoma.
Memory hook: Lucid interval.
50 · Head and neck
Which bones meet at the pterion?
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Frontal, parietal, greater wing of sphenoid and squamous temporal.
Memory hook: Weakest part of the lateral skull.
51 · Head and neck
Which structures lie within the cavernous sinus itself?
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The internal carotid artery and the abducens nerve.
Memory hook: III, IV, V1, V2 are in the lateral wall.
52 · Head and neck
Why is the danger area of the face dangerous?
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The facial vein connects via the angular and ophthalmic veins to the cavernous sinus, so infection can spread intracranially.
Memory hook: Valveless veins.
53 · Head and neck
Where does the parotid duct open?
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Into the vestibule of the mouth opposite the upper second molar.
Memory hook: Stensen's duct.
54 · Head and neck
Which nerve is tested by taste on the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
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The chorda tympani (branch of the facial nerve).
Memory hook: General sensation is the lingual nerve.
55 · Head and neck
Which nerve supplies the cricothyroid muscle and what is its risk in thyroid surgery?
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The external laryngeal nerve; injury weakens high pitch.
Memory hook: Runs with the superior thyroid artery.
56 · Head and neck
Which structures form the carotid sheath?
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Common or internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein and the vagus nerve.
Memory hook: The sympathetic trunk lies behind, outside the sheath.
57 · Neuroanatomy
Which area is the motor speech area and where is it?
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Broca's area (Brodmann 44, 45) in the inferior frontal gyrus.
Memory hook: Broca: broken speech.
58 · Neuroanatomy
Which area is concerned with comprehension of speech?
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Wernicke's area in the posterior superior temporal gyrus.
Memory hook: Fluent but meaningless speech.
59 · Neuroanatomy
Which Brodmann area is the primary motor cortex?
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Area 4, in the precentral gyrus.
Memory hook: Area 3, 1, 2 is primary sensory.
60 · Neuroanatomy
Where is the primary visual cortex?
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Area 17 along the calcarine sulcus of the occipital lobe.
Memory hook: Macula is represented posteriorly.
61 · Neuroanatomy
Which artery is involved in lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome?
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The posterior inferior cerebellar artery (or vertebral artery).
Memory hook: Ipsilateral face, contralateral body pain loss.
62 · Neuroanatomy
Which tract carries fine touch, vibration and proprioception and where does it decussate?
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Dorsal column medial lemniscus pathway; fibres decussate in the medulla.
Memory hook: Gracile and cuneate nuclei.
63 · Neuroanatomy
Where do the fibres of the lateral spinothalamic tract cross?
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In the anterior white commissure, within a segment or two of entry.
Memory hook: Pain and temperature.
64 · Neuroanatomy
Which nucleus degenerates in Parkinson's disease?
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The substantia nigra pars compacta, with loss of dopamine.
Memory hook: Nigrostriatal pathway.
65 · Neuroanatomy
Where does the adult spinal cord end and where is lumbar puncture done?
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The cord ends at about L1-L2; puncture at L3-L4 or L4-L5.
Memory hook: Below the conus medullaris.
66 · Embryology
Which arch artery gives rise to the ductus arteriosus?
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The left sixth aortic arch.
Memory hook: Becomes ligamentum arteriosum.
67 · Embryology
What is a Meckel's diverticulum?
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A remnant of the vitello-intestinal duct, in the ileum.
Memory hook: Rule of 2s.
68 · Embryology
Which embryonic structure forms the median umbilical ligament?
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The urachus (allantois remnant).
Memory hook: Patent urachus: urine at the umbilicus.
69 · Embryology
Where does the thyroid gland originate?
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From the foramen caecum at the base of the tongue, descending as the thyroglossal duct.
Memory hook: Cysts lie in the midline.
70 · Embryology
What do the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches form?
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Third: inferior parathyroid and thymus. Fourth: superior parathyroid.
Memory hook: Third goes Down.
71 · Embryology
What is the most common type of atrial septal defect?
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Ostium secundum defect.
Memory hook: Defective septum secundum or resorbed primum.
72 · Embryology
Which hormone from Sertoli cells causes regression of the paramesonephric duct?
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Anti-Mullerian hormone.
Memory hook: SRY gene starts the cascade.
73 · Embryology
Which hernia is caused by failure of the pleuroperitoneal membrane to close, and which side is common?
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Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (Bochdalek), commonly posterolateral on the left.
Memory hook: Pulmonary hypoplasia follows.
74 · Medical genetics
What is the risk to a child of an affected heterozygous parent in autosomal dominant inheritance?
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50% for each pregnancy.
Memory hook: Vertical transmission.
75 · Medical genetics
What is the pattern of mitochondrial inheritance?
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Maternal: all children of an affected mother inherit it; an affected father transmits none.
Memory hook: Heteroplasmy varies severity.
76 · Medical genetics
What are the karyotypes of Turner and Klinefelter syndromes?
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Turner 45,X; Klinefelter 47,XXY.
Memory hook: Barr bodies: one in Klinefelter, none in Turner.
77 · Medical genetics
Which genetic change gives Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes?
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Deletion at 15q11-q13: paternal in Prader-Willi, maternal in Angelman.
Memory hook: Genomic imprinting.
78 · Medical genetics
What does the Hardy-Weinberg equation state?
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p squared plus 2pq plus q squared equals 1, for genotype frequencies in a stable population.
Memory hook: Carrier frequency is 2pq.
79 · Medical genetics
What is the difference between penetrance and expressivity?
Show the answer
Penetrance is the proportion with the genotype who show any phenotype; expressivity is the degree of the phenotype.
Memory hook: All-or-none versus how much.
Common questions
How many Anatomy flashcards are there?
79 cards across 14 topics. The deck grows as we add material.
Which topics are in the Anatomy deck?
Upper limb, Larynx, Skull foramina, Spinal reflexes, Lower limb, Thorax, Abdomen, Head and neck, Neuroanatomy, General anatomy and histology, Upper limb and brachial plexus, Abdomen and pelvis, and more.
Is the Anatomy deck free?
Yes. Anatomy is one of the three decks open on the free plan, with Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
How do spaced-repetition cards work?
You rate each card Again, Hard, Good or Easy. Cards you find hard return soon and cards you know return later, so your time goes where you forget.
What is the memory hook on a card?
77 of these cards carry a one-line hook: a short cue that helps the answer stick. It is optional and appears after you reveal the answer.
How many Anatomy cards should I do a day?
Ten to twenty minutes a day is plenty. A few due cards every day beat a long session once a week.
Can I flip through the cards on this page?
You can read each question and reveal its answer here. For scheduling, ratings and progress, study the deck in the app.
Are the Anatomy cards reviewed by faculty?
Not yet. They are original and still awaiting independent review, so confirm anything important in a standard textbook.