Embryology: midgut: 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: midgut

Sample item

A 2-year-old has painless rectal bleeding. At surgery a small diverticulum is found on the antimesenteric border of the ileum, containing ectopic gastric mucosa. Which embryonic structure has persisted?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct

A Meckel diverticulum is a remnant of the proximal vitelline duct, which normally connects the midgut to the yolk sac and obliterates in the early weeks of development. It is a true diverticulum and may contain gastric or pancreatic heterotopic tissue, and acid from gastric mucosa ulcerates the adjacent ileum.

Option by option

  • A. Processus vaginalis

    The processus vaginalis is a peritoneal outpouching through the inguinal canal, relevant to hernia and hydrocele.

  • B. Vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct (correct)

    Correct. A persisting part of the vitelline duct leaves a diverticulum on the ileum.

  • C. Cloacal membrane

    The cloacal membrane breaks down to form the anal and urogenital openings and is unrelated to the ileum.

  • D. Urachus

    The urachus is the allantoic remnant between bladder and umbilicus and gives urachal cyst or fistula, not an ileal diverticulum.

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.

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Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Vitelline (omphalomesenteric) duct. A Meckel diverticulum is a remnant of the proximal vitelline duct, which normally connects the midgut to the yolk sac and obliterates in the early weeks of development.

Why is "Processus vaginalis" not the answer?

The processus vaginalis is a peritoneal outpouching through the inguinal canal, relevant to hernia and hydrocele.

Why is "Cloacal membrane" not the answer?

The cloacal membrane breaks down to form the anal and urogenital openings and is unrelated to the ileum.

Why is "Urachus" not the answer?

The urachus is the allantoic remnant between bladder and umbilicus and gives urachal cyst or fistula, not an ileal diverticulum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: midgut in Anatomy. It is a true diverticulum and may contain gastric or pancreatic heterotopic tissue, and acid from gastric mucosa ulcerates the adjacent ileum.

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: midgut?

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.