Anatomy you need to know

Need to know Anatomy

Anatomy is probably the largest topic you will need to cover pre-interview. As mentioned previously, the majority of marks will be for your approach to a trauma or understanding of the fundamental clinical issues. However, the follow up questions will always include some relation to anatomy.

Rather than outline all the in-depth anatomy on this page. I would recommend you learn the anatomy at the level of MRCS from established resources such as TeachMeAnatomy and Grays. I will provide a list of topics I feel you should have a good understanding off prior to the interview. However, this list is not exhaustive and I would advise you to always read further.

Upper Limb

Course, relations, and branches of the ulnar nerve; clinical relevance (cubital tunnel, Guyon’s canal).
Explain the ulnar paradox.
Course of the median nerve and entrapment sites (carpal tunnel, pronator teres).
Radial nerve course and branches; clinical features of injury at spiral groove vs posterior interosseous nerve.
Axillary nerve course, relations, and injury in shoulder dislocation.
Describe the brachial plexus – roots, trunks, divisions, cords, branches.
Anatomical basis of Erb’s and Klumpke’s palsy.
Boundaries and contents of the cubital fossa.
Radial & ulnar arteries – course and palmar anastomoses.
Anatomy of the rotator cuff muscles.
Blood supply and clinical relevance of the scaphoid.
Boundaries and contents of the carpal tunnel.
Anatomical basis of Volkmann’s ischaemic contracture.
Anatomical Complications of particular fractures e.g Supracondylar Fracture and Anterior Interosseous Nerve.
Describe how you would assess for the Ulnar, Median, AIN and Radial Nerves.
Describe how you would differentiate between FDS and FDP on clinical examination.
What are the boundaries of the Quadrangular Space and what passes through it.

Pelvis & Hip

Describe the blood supply to the femoral head and neck.
Course of the sciatic nerve and relations in the gluteal region.
Boundaries and contents of the greater and lesser sciatic foramina.
Boundaries and contents of the femoral triangle.
Boundaries and contents of the adductor canal.
Ligaments of the hip joint and their role in stability.
Anatomical basis of posterior hip dislocation and risk to sciatic nerve.
Describe the Trendelenburg gait and relevant anatomy.
Anatomy of the sacroiliac joint and ligaments.
Venous supply of Pelvis and importance of pelvic binder.
Structures at risk in Sacro-Iliac Joint Disruption.

Lower Limb (Thigh & Knee)

Course of the femoral nerve and features of injury.
Course of the obturator nerve.
Boundaries and contents of the popliteal fossa.
Course of the common peroneal nerve and injury at fibular neck.
Anatomy of the knee menisci (attachments, blood supply).
Blood supply of the cruciate ligaments.
Anatomical basis of the unhappy triad of knee injury.
Describe the locking mechanism of the knee joint.
Relations of the popliteal artery and clinical importance.
Anatomy of the patella and its blood supply.
Compartments of the thigh and associated nerve supply.
Number of compartments of the Lower Leg and role in decompressive fasciotomy.
List the muscles in each compartment of the lower leg.
Describe the arterial supply of lower leg and major branches.
Describe the incisions for a lower leg fasciotomy

Foot & Ankle

Boundaries and contents of the tarsal tunnel.
Course and branches of the tibial and common peroneal nerves.
Blood supply of the talus (risk of AVN).
Anatomy of the ankle joint (ligaments, stability, mechanism of injury).
Outline the ligaments that make up the deltoid ligament.
Anatomy of the subtalar joint.
Describe the arches of the foot and their supports.
Surface anatomy of the posterior tibial artery (pulse site).
Compartments of the leg and compartment syndrome.
Anatomy of the Achilles tendon insertion and blood supply.
Anatomy of the Lisfranc joint complex.

Spine

Anatomy of the vertebral column and regional variations (cervical, thoracic, lumbar).
Anatomy of the intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus).
Blood supply of the spinal cord (anterior & posterior spinal arteries, artery of Adamkiewicz).
Describe the ligaments of the spine (ALL, PLL, ligamentum flavum, interspinous, supraspinous).
Anatomy of the cauda equina and conus medullaris.
Differences between cauda equina syndrome vs conus medullaris syndrome.
Dermatomes and myotomes of upper and lower limbs.
Describe the approach to an Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Explain why spinothalamic tract lesions cause contralateral pain/temperature loss starting 1–2 levels below.
Describe the ASIA scoring system for spinal cord injury.