A 40-year-old female presented to her doctor with a lump in the middle of her neck. Physical examination revealed an enlarged thyroid gland. Because protrusion of her eyes and loss of weight was also detected, a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism was made. Since medical treatment was not effective, a partial thyroidectomy was performed. After the operation, the patient complained of hoarseness (abnormal voice changes). Which of the following structures was most likely damaged?

A 35-year-old female is diagnosed with a disc herniation at L4-L5.  Which spinal nerve would most likely be affected?  

A 27 year old pianist with a known carpal tunnel syndrome experiences difficulty in finger movements. Which of the following intrinsic muscles of her hand is paralyzed?   

What is the “common flexor origin” and “common extensor origin” for the muscles of the forearm that act on the wrist and digits?  

The “danger area” of the face is so defined because infection from that area may spread via venous blood to intracranial venous sinuses.  Which one of the following connecting veins will bring an infection directly from the angular branch of the facial vein that lies in this “danger area” to the cavernous sinus?    

Which statement regarding hernias is CORRECT?  

A rural physician assistant in a medically isolated region meets a 45-year-old male with a right hand deformity.  He explains the condition set in gradually over a period of several months after he “broke his elbow” falling off his roof.  The PA immediately recognizes this classic claw hand appearance in which digits 4 and 5 are hyperextended at the MCP joint and flexed at the PIP joint  He has the ability to flex and extend digits 1-3, but cannot fully extend digits 4 and 5.  The hypothenar eminence is flattened from muscular atrophy, but the thenar eminence is well maintained.  Which one of the following nerves was most likely injured?  

A 48-year-old male soccer coach is admitted to the hospital after falling. A CT scan reveals a tumor in his brain. When he regains consciousness, he presents with a head tilt to the left side to help his diplopia and he is unable to track inferomedially in your cardinal signs of gaze exam. His eye maintains a position that only drifts superomedially. Which of the following cranial nerves was most likley affected by the tumor to result in these symptoms? 

Following an injury while skiing, a 32-year-old female is examined in a seated position in the clinic.  Holding the right tibia with both hands, the clinician can pull the tibial forward under the distal part of the femur.  The left tibia cannot be displaced in this way.  Which structure is most likely damaged in the right knee?  

The three direct branches of the celiac trunk are the: