Heart: practice question

A Anatomy question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anatomy · Heart

Sample item

The sinoatrial node artery most commonly arises from which vessel?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Right coronary artery

In roughly 60% of people the SA nodal artery comes off the right coronary artery near its origin. In most of the rest it arises from the left circumflex. This is why inferior infarcts from RCA occlusion can bring sinus bradycardia or nodal dysfunction.

Option by option

  • A. Left anterior descending artery

    The LAD supplies the anterior septum and anterior left ventricle, not the SA node.

  • B. Left circumflex artery

    The circumflex is the source in a minority of hearts, but not the most common.

  • C. Right coronary artery (correct)

    Correct. It is the commoner origin, hence bradycardia in inferior infarcts.

  • D. Posterior interventricular artery

    The posterior interventricular artery supplies the inferior septum and, in right-dominant hearts, the AV node region.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Right coronary artery. In roughly 60% of people the SA nodal artery comes off the right coronary artery near its origin.

Why is "Left anterior descending artery" not the answer?

The LAD supplies the anterior septum and anterior left ventricle, not the SA node.

Why is "Left circumflex artery" not the answer?

The circumflex is the source in a minority of hearts, but not the most common.

Why is "Posterior interventricular artery" not the answer?

The posterior interventricular artery supplies the inferior septum and, in right-dominant hearts, the AV node region.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Heart in Anatomy. In most of the rest it arises from the left circumflex. This is why inferior infarcts from RCA occlusion can bring sinus bradycardia or nodal dysfunction.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Heart?

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. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.