NEET MDS General Anatomy Syllabus

General Anatomy syllabus — full chapter and topic list

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

1. 1

   Introduction to Anatomy

   2 topics

   • Definition and Scope
     • Branches of Anatomy
     • Anatomical Terminology
   • Anatomical Position and Planes
     • Anatomical Position
     • Body Planes and Sections
2. 2

   Upper Limb

   4 topics

   • Bones of the Upper Limb
     • Clavicle
     • Scapula
     • Humerus
     • Radius and Ulna
     • Bones of the Hand
   • Muscles of the Upper Limb
     • Muscles of the Shoulder
     • Muscles of the Arm
     • Muscles of the Forearm
     • Muscles of the Hand
   • Nerves of the Upper Limb
     • Brachial Plexus
     • Peripheral Nerves
   • Blood Vessels of the Upper Limb
     • Arteries
     • Veins
3. 3

   Lower Limb

   4 topics

   • Bones of the Lower Limb
     • Pelvic Girdle
     • Femur
     • Patella
     • Tibia and Fibula
     • Bones of the Foot
   • Muscles of the Lower Limb
     • Muscles of the Hip
     • Muscles of the Thigh
     • Muscles of the Leg
     • Muscles of the Foot
   • Nerves of the Lower Limb
     • Lumbosacral Plexus
     • Peripheral Nerves
   • Blood Vessels of the Lower Limb
     • Arteries
     • Veins
4. 4

   Thorax

   5 topics

   • Bones of the Thorax
     • Sternum
     • Ribs
     • Thoracic Vertebrae
   • Muscles of the Thorax
     • Intercostal Muscles
     • Diaphragm
   • Organs of the Thorax
     • Heart
     • Lungs
     • Esophagus
   • Nerves of the Thorax
     • Phrenic Nerve
     • Vagus Nerve
   • Blood Vessels of the Thorax
     • Aorta
     • Pulmonary Arteries and Veins
5. 5

   Abdomen

   4 topics

   • Abdominal Wall
     • Layers of the Abdominal Wall
     • Muscles of the Abdominal Wall
   • Organs of the Abdomen
     • Stomach
     • Intestines
     • Liver
     • Pancreas
     • Spleen
     • Kidneys
   • Nerves of the Abdomen
     • Autonomic Nerves
     • Somatic Nerves
   • Blood Vessels of the Abdomen
     • Aorta and its Branches
     • Inferior Vena Cava
6. 6

   Pelvis and Perineum

   5 topics

   • Bones of the Pelvis
     • Pelvic Girdle
     • Sacrum and Coccyx
   • Muscles of the Pelvis and Perineum
     • Pelvic Floor Muscles
     • Perineal Muscles
   • Organs of the Pelvis
     • Bladder
     • Reproductive Organs
     • Rectum
   • Nerves of the Pelvis
     • Sacral Plexus
     • Pudendal Nerve
   • Blood Vessels of the Pelvis
     • Internal Iliac Artery and Vein
7. 7

   Head and Neck

   5 topics

   • Bones of the Head and Neck
     • Cranium
     • Facial Bones
     • Cervical Vertebrae
   • Muscles of the Head and Neck
     • Facial Muscles
     • Masticatory Muscles
     • Neck Muscles
   • Nerves of the Head and Neck
     • Cranial Nerves
     • Cervical Plexus
   • Blood Vessels of the Head and Neck
     • Carotid Arteries
     • Jugular Veins
   • Organs of the Head and Neck
     • Brain
     • Eyes
     • Ears
     • Nose
     • Mouth
     • Throat
8. 8

   Neuroanatomy

   3 topics

   • Central Nervous System
     • Brain
     • Spinal Cord
   • Peripheral Nervous System
     • Peripheral Nerves
     • Ganglia
   • Autonomic Nervous System
     • Sympathetic Division
     • Parasympathetic Division
9. 9

   Histology

   2 topics

   • Tissues of the Body
     • Epithelial Tissue
     • Connective Tissue
     • Muscle Tissue
     • Nervous Tissue
   • Microscopic Anatomy of Organs
     • Microscopic Anatomy of the Heart
     • Microscopic Anatomy of the Lungs
     • Microscopic Anatomy of the Liver
     • Microscopic Anatomy of the Kidneys
10. 10

    Embryology

    2 topics

    • Basic Concepts
      • Fertilization
      • Cleavage and Blastocyst Formation
      • Gastrulation
    • Development of Organ Systems
      • Development of the Heart
      • Development of the Nervous System
      • Development of the Gastrointestinal System
      • Development of the Urinary System
      • Development of the Reproductive System

General Anatomy flashcards for NEET MDS

23 of 52 cards from the General Anatomy deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the anatomical definition of 'anatomy' and what does the subdivision 'gross anatomy' specifically study?

   Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body and the relationships of its parts. Gross (macroscopic) anatomy studies structures visible to the naked eye, without a microscope.

2. Define the standard 'anatomical position' used as the reference for describing body parts.

   Body erect, eyes facing forward, feet together (or slightly apart), arms hanging at the sides with the palms facing forward (forearms supinated).

3. Name the three principal anatomical planes and the orientation of each.

   Sagittal (vertical, divides into left/right), Coronal/frontal (vertical, divides into anterior/posterior), and Transverse/horizontal/axial (divides into superior/inferior).

4. Distinguish the directional terms 'proximal' and 'distal' as applied to a limb.

   Proximal = nearer to the trunk or point of attachment/origin; Distal = farther from the trunk or point of origin (e.g., the wrist is distal to the elbow).

5. List the bones forming the pectoral (shoulder) girdle and the bone of the arm.

   Pectoral girdle: clavicle and scapula. Bone of the arm (brachium): humerus.

6. Name the two bones of the forearm and state which lies on the lateral (thumb) side.

   Radius and ulna. The radius lies laterally (on the thumb side) in the anatomical position; the ulna is medial.

7. How many carpal bones are there, and name them from the proximal row laterally to medially.

   Eight carpal bones. Proximal row (lateral to medial): scaphoid, lunate, triquetrum, pisiform. Distal row: trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, hamate.

8. Which muscles form the rotator cuff, and what is their collective function?

   Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, Subscapularis (SITS). They stabilize the glenohumeral joint and assist in rotation/abduction of the arm.

9. Name the two heads of the biceps brachii and its main actions at the elbow and forearm.

   Long head and short head. It flexes the elbow and is a powerful supinator of the forearm; it also weakly flexes the shoulder.

10. Which nerve innervates most of the anterior (flexor) compartment of the forearm, and which one supplies the muscles of the thenar eminence?

    The median nerve supplies most anterior forearm flexors and the thenar (LOAF) muscles; the recurrent branch of the median nerve specifically supplies the thenar eminence.

11. State the root values (spinal levels) of the brachial plexus.

    Ventral rami of C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1.

12. Which nerve is most commonly injured in a fracture of the surgical neck of the humerus, and what deficit results?

    The axillary nerve. Injury causes deltoid paralysis (loss of arm abduction) and loss of sensation over the 'regimental badge' area of the lateral shoulder.

13. Trace the continuity of the main arterial trunk from the axilla to the forearm.

    Subclavian artery becomes the axillary artery (at the lateral border of the 1st rib), which becomes the brachial artery (at the lower border of teres major), which divides into the radial and ulnar arteries at the cubital fossa.

14. Which superficial vein of the upper limb is commonly used for venipuncture in the cubital fossa, and which two veins does it connect?

    The median cubital vein; it connects the cephalic vein (lateral) and the basilic vein (medial).

15. Name the bones forming the pelvic girdle and the single bone of the thigh.

    Pelvic girdle: the hip bone (os coxae), formed by fusion of ilium, ischium, and pubis. Bone of the thigh: femur.

16. Name the two bones of the leg and state which is weight-bearing.

    Tibia (medial, weight-bearing, forms the knee and ankle joints) and fibula (lateral, primarily for muscle attachment, bears little weight).

17. Which is the largest sesamoid bone in the body and within which tendon does it lie?

    The patella; it lies within the tendon of the quadriceps femoris muscle.

18. Name the muscles of the quadriceps femoris group and their common insertion.

    Rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius. They insert via the quadriceps/patellar tendon onto the tibial tuberosity and extend the knee.

19. Name the three hamstring muscles and their common nerve supply.

    Biceps femoris (long head), semitendinosus, and semimembranosus, supplied by the tibial division of the sciatic nerve (the short head of biceps by the common fibular division).

20. What are the two terminal branches of the sciatic nerve and the general region each supplies?

    Tibial nerve (supplies the posterior compartment of the leg and sole of the foot) and common fibular/peroneal nerve (supplies the anterior and lateral compartments of the leg and dorsum of the foot).

21. Injury to which nerve causes 'foot drop', and what is the resulting gait?

    The common fibular (peroneal) nerve. It causes loss of dorsiflexion and eversion, producing foot drop and a high-stepping (steppage) gait.

22. Trace the main arterial supply of the lower limb from the pelvis to the foot.

    External iliac becomes femoral artery (at the inguinal ligament); the femoral becomes the popliteal artery (at the adductor hiatus); the popliteal divides into anterior and posterior tibial arteries; the anterior tibial continues as the dorsalis pedis on the dorsum of the foot.

23. Name the longest vein in the body and its termination.

    The great (long) saphenous vein; it begins at the medial end of the dorsal venous arch of the foot and drains into the femoral vein at the saphenous opening.

See more General Anatomy flashcards →

Planning General Anatomy for NEET MDS

General Anatomy (NEET MDS) FAQ