Abdomen: peritoneal relations: 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 · Abdomen: peritoneal relations

Sample item

Which of the following organs is secondarily retroperitoneal, having been intraperitoneal in the embryo?

ASpleenBTransverse colonCJejunumDPancreas (head and body)

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pancreas (head and body)

Primary retroperitoneal organs, such as the kidneys, never had a mesentery. Secondary retroperitoneal organs, including the duodenum (except the first part), ascending and descending colon and most of the pancreas, were suspended by a mesentery that fused to the posterior abdominal wall.

Option by option

A. Spleen
The spleen is intraperitoneal and is attached by the gastrosplenic and splenorenal ligaments.
B. Transverse colon
The transverse colon keeps its transverse mesocolon and remains intraperitoneal.
C. Jejunum
The jejunum remains suspended by the small bowel mesentery and is fully intraperitoneal.
D. Pancreas (head and body) (correct)
Correct. The pancreas lost its mesentery by fusion with the posterior wall, apart from the tail.

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.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is D, Pancreas (head and body). Primary retroperitoneal organs, such as the kidneys, never had a mesentery.

Why is "Spleen" not the answer?

The spleen is intraperitoneal and is attached by the gastrosplenic and splenorenal ligaments.

Why is "Transverse colon" not the answer?

The transverse colon keeps its transverse mesocolon and remains intraperitoneal.

Why is "Jejunum" not the answer?

The jejunum remains suspended by the small bowel mesentery and is fully intraperitoneal.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen: peritoneal relations in Anatomy. Secondary retroperitoneal organs, including the duodenum (except the first part), ascending and descending colon and most of the pancreas, were suspended by a mesentery that fused to the posterior abdominal wall.

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 Abdomen: peritoneal relations?

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.