Neuroanatomy: visual pathway: 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 · Neuroanatomy: visual pathway

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman with a right temporal lobe tumour has loss of the upper quadrant of the visual field on the left side in both eyes. Which structure is most likely involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Right Meyer's loop of the optic radiation

Fibres from the lower retina carry the upper visual field and loop forward into the temporal lobe as Meyer's loop. Damage there causes a contralateral superior homonymous quadrantanopia, often called pie in the sky.

Option by option

  • A. Right Meyer's loop of the optic radiation (correct)

    Correct. A right temporal lesion of Meyer's loop gives a left upper quadrant defect in both eyes.

  • B. Right parietal part of the optic radiation

    The parietal fibres carry the upper retina and so the lower field, so their damage gives a lower quadrant defect.

  • C. Right optic tract

    A right optic tract lesion removes the whole left half of the field in both eyes, a homonymous hemianopia.

  • D. Optic chiasma

    A lesion of the chiasma damages crossing fibres and gives bitemporal hemianopia.

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 A, Right Meyer's loop of the optic radiation. Fibres from the lower retina carry the upper visual field and loop forward into the temporal lobe as Meyer's loop.

Why is "Right parietal part of the optic radiation" not the answer?

The parietal fibres carry the upper retina and so the lower field, so their damage gives a lower quadrant defect.

Why is "Right optic tract" not the answer?

A right optic tract lesion removes the whole left half of the field in both eyes, a homonymous hemianopia.

Why is "Optic chiasma" not the answer?

A lesion of the chiasma damages crossing fibres and gives bitemporal hemianopia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: visual pathway in Anatomy. Damage there causes a contralateral superior homonymous quadrantanopia, often called pie in the sky.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Neuroanatomy: visual pathway?

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.