DNB CET Anatomy Syllabus

Anatomy syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Anatomy in DNB CET, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Gross and Regional Anatomy

   4 topics

   • Upper and Lower Limb
     • Brachial plexus roots, trunks, cords and branches
     • Cubital fossa and carpal tunnel contents
     • Femoral triangle and adductor canal
     • Arches of the foot and their maintenance
   • Thorax
     • Mediastinal divisions and contents
     • Coronary arterial supply and dominance
     • Bronchopulmonary segments
   • Abdomen and Pelvis
     • Inguinal canal and hernia anatomy
     • Portal venous system and portosystemic anastomoses
     • Pelvic diaphragm and perineum
   • Head, Neck and Brain
     • Triangles of the neck and cervical fascia
     • Cranial nerve nuclei and foramina of exit
     • Circle of Willis and dural venous sinuses
2. 2

   Histology and General Anatomy

   4 topics

   • Epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue classification
   • Microstructure of liver, kidney and endocrine glands
   • Joints, cartilage and bone microarchitecture
   • Lymphoid organs and blood vessel wall layers
3. 3

   Embryology

   5 topics

   • Gametogenesis, fertilization and implantation
   • Germ layer derivatives and gastrulation
   • Pharyngeal arches, pouches and clefts
   • Cardiac and great vessel development with anomalies
   • Gut rotation, neural tube and limb development defects
4. 4

   Neuroanatomy

   4 topics

   • Ascending sensory and descending motor tracts
   • Basal ganglia, thalamus and internal capsule
   • Cerebellar connections and functional zones
   • Ventricular system and CSF circulation

Anatomy flashcards for DNB CET

24 of 50 cards from the Anatomy deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which artery is most commonly injured in a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus, and what nerve accompanies it?

   The posterior circumflex humeral artery, accompanied by the axillary nerve. Injury causes deltoid paralysis and loss of sensation over the regimental badge area.

2. Name the boundaries of the cubital fossa.

   Laterally: brachioradialis; medially: pronator teres; superiorly (base): an imaginary line between the two epicondyles of the humerus; floor: brachialis and supinator; roof: deep fascia, bicipital aponeurosis, and skin.

3. What are the contents of the femoral triangle from lateral to medial (NAVEL)?

   Femoral Nerve, femoral Artery, femoral Vein, Empty space (femoral canal with lymphatics/Cloquet's node), and Lacunar ligament medially. Mnemonic NAVEL.

4. Which nerve is at risk in fracture of the neck of the fibula, and what deficit results?

   The common peroneal (fibular) nerve. Injury causes foot drop (loss of dorsiflexion and eversion) and loss of sensation over the dorsum of the foot and lateral leg.

5. Which structures pass through the carpal tunnel?

   The median nerve and 9 tendons: 4 flexor digitorum superficialis, 4 flexor digitorum profundus, and 1 flexor pollicis longus. (The flexor carpi radialis lies in a separate compartment.)

6. List the borders and surfaces used to describe the lungs and identify which has the cardiac notch.

   Each lung has apex, base, costal/mediastinal/diaphragmatic surfaces, and anterior/posterior/inferior borders. The left lung has the cardiac notch and lingula on its anterior border.

7. What are the three constrictions of the oesophagus and their approximate distances from the incisor teeth?

   At the cricopharyngeus/pharyngo-oesophageal junction (~15 cm), where crossed by the aortic arch and left main bronchus (~22-27 cm), and at the oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm (~40 cm).

8. Name the three openings in the diaphragm with their vertebral levels and main contents.

   Caval opening (T8, IVC + right phrenic nerve), oesophageal hiatus (T10, oesophagus + vagal trunks), aortic hiatus (T12, aorta + thoracic duct + azygos vein).

9. Define the boundaries of the inguinal canal.

   Floor: inguinal ligament + lacunar ligament; roof: arching fibres of internal oblique and transversus abdominis; anterior wall: external oblique aponeurosis (+ internal oblique laterally); posterior wall: transversalis fascia (+ conjoint tendon medially).

10. What distinguishes a direct from an indirect inguinal hernia anatomically?

    Indirect: passes through the deep inguinal ring, lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels, can enter the scrotum. Direct: pushes through Hesselbach's triangle, medial to the inferior epigastric vessels.

11. What are the boundaries of Hesselbach's (inguinal) triangle?

    Medially: lateral border of rectus abdominis; laterally: inferior epigastric vessels; inferiorly: inguinal ligament.

12. List the contents of the spermatic cord (3 arteries, 3 nerves, 3 other structures).

    Arteries: testicular, cremasteric, artery to vas. Nerves: genital branch of genitofemoral, sympathetics, ilioinguinal (on, not in, cord). Others: vas deferens, pampiniform plexus, lymphatics.

13. What are the named branches of the external carotid artery?

    Superior thyroid, Ascending pharyngeal, Lingual, Facial, Occipital, Posterior auricular, Maxillary, Superficial temporal. Mnemonic: Some Anatomists Like Freaking Out Poor Medical Students.

14. Which structures pass through the foramen ovale of the skull?

    The mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve (V3), the accessory meningeal artery, the lesser petrosal nerve, and an emissary vein. Mnemonic OVALE: Otic ganglion, V3, Accessory meningeal artery, Lesser petrosal, Emissary vein.

15. Classify epithelium by cell layers and shape, giving one example of each simple type.

    Simple squamous (alveoli/endothelium), simple cuboidal (kidney tubules), simple columnar (GI tract); plus pseudostratified (trachea) and stratified types (squamous-skin/oesophagus, transitional-bladder).

16. What are the three types of muscle tissue and their key distinguishing features?

    Skeletal: striated, multinucleated (peripheral nuclei), voluntary. Cardiac: striated, single central nucleus, intercalated discs, involuntary. Smooth: non-striated, single central nucleus, spindle-shaped, involuntary.

17. Name the principal types of connective tissue fibres and their main protein/function.

    Collagen fibres (type I, tensile strength), reticular fibres (type III, supportive meshwork of organs), elastic fibres (elastin, recoil/stretch).

18. Describe the histological organization of the classic hepatic lobule.

    A hexagonal lobule with a central vein at its centre and portal triads (hepatic artery branch, portal vein branch, bile duct) at the corners. Blood flows from periphery to centre; bile flows centre to periphery.

19. What are the components of the renal corpuscle and the structure of the filtration barrier?

    Renal corpuscle = glomerulus + Bowman's capsule. Filtration barrier = fenestrated endothelium, glomerular basement membrane, and podocyte filtration slits (with slit diaphragm).

20. Differentiate the histology of the adrenal cortex and medulla.

    Cortex (3 zones): zona glomerulosa (mineralocorticoids), zona fasciculata (glucocorticoids), zona reticularis (androgens). Medulla: chromaffin cells secreting catecholamines (adrenaline/noradrenaline), modified postganglionic sympathetic neurons.

21. Classify joints structurally and give an example of each.

    Fibrous (sutures of skull, syndesmosis), cartilaginous (primary/synchondrosis-epiphyseal plate; secondary/symphysis-pubic symphysis), and synovial (knee, shoulder).

22. Compare the three types of cartilage by matrix and location.

    Hyaline: type II collagen, glassy matrix, articular surfaces/costal cartilage. Elastic: elastic fibres, epiglottis/external ear. Fibrocartilage: type I collagen, dense, intervertebral discs/menisci/pubic symphysis.

23. Describe the microarchitecture of compact bone (osteon/Haversian system).

    An osteon consists of concentric lamellae around a central Haversian canal (carrying vessels/nerves); osteocytes lie in lacunae connected by canaliculi; Volkmann's canals connect Haversian canals transversely.

24. Distinguish the histology of primary vs secondary lymphoid organs.

    Primary (thymus, bone marrow): site of lymphocyte production/maturation. Secondary (lymph nodes, spleen, MALT/tonsils): site of antigen-driven immune response. Thymus has Hassall's corpuscles in its medulla.

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