Embryology: 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 · Embryology

Sample item

From which embryonic structure does the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) develop?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm)

The adenohypophysis develops from Rathke's pouch, an upgrowth of oral ectoderm. The neurohypophysis develops from a downgrowth of neuroectoderm (the infundibulum). A persistent remnant of Rathke's pouch can give a craniopharyngioma.

Option by option

  • A. Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm) (correct)

    Correct. The anterior pituitary is of oral ectoderm origin.

  • B. Infundibulum (neuroectoderm)

    The infundibulum forms the posterior pituitary and the stalk, which are neural in origin.

  • C. Third pharyngeal pouch

    The third pharyngeal pouch gives the thymus and the inferior parathyroids.

  • D. Notochord

    The notochord induces the neural plate and forms the nucleus pulposus, not the pituitary.

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 A, Rathke's pouch (oral ectoderm). The adenohypophysis develops from Rathke's pouch, an upgrowth of oral ectoderm.

Why is "Infundibulum (neuroectoderm)" not the answer?

The infundibulum forms the posterior pituitary and the stalk, which are neural in origin.

Why is "Third pharyngeal pouch" not the answer?

The third pharyngeal pouch gives the thymus and the inferior parathyroids.

Why is "Notochord" not the answer?

The notochord induces the neural plate and forms the nucleus pulposus, not the pituitary.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology in Anatomy. The neurohypophysis develops from a downgrowth of neuroectoderm (the infundibulum). A persistent remnant of Rathke's pouch can give a craniopharyngioma.

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 Embryology?

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.