Joints of lower limb: 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 · Joints of lower limb

Sample item

An elderly woman falls and fractures the neck of the femur. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a feared complication because the head depends mainly on which artery?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Medial circumflex femoral artery

In adults the femoral head is supplied chiefly by retinacular branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery that run up the neck. A displaced intracapsular neck fracture tears these vessels and risks avascular necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Lateral circumflex femoral artery

    The lateral circumflex femoral artery contributes much less to the head and supplies mainly the lateral thigh muscles.

  • B. Obturator artery

    The obturator artery gives a small branch in the ligament of the head of the femur, which is minor in adults.

  • C. Superior gluteal artery

    The superior gluteal artery supplies the gluteal muscles and does not give the main supply to the head.

  • D. Medial circumflex femoral artery (correct)

    Correct. Its retinacular branches along the femoral neck are the principal supply, so they are torn by an intracapsular fracture.

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 D, Medial circumflex femoral artery. In adults the femoral head is supplied chiefly by retinacular branches of the medial circumflex femoral artery that run up the neck.

Why is "Lateral circumflex femoral artery" not the answer?

The lateral circumflex femoral artery contributes much less to the head and supplies mainly the lateral thigh muscles.

Why is "Obturator artery" not the answer?

The obturator artery gives a small branch in the ligament of the head of the femur, which is minor in adults.

Why is "Superior gluteal artery" not the answer?

The superior gluteal artery supplies the gluteal muscles and does not give the main supply to the head.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Joints of lower limb in Anatomy. A displaced intracapsular neck fracture tears these vessels and risks avascular necrosis.

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 Joints of lower limb?

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.