Spinal cord blood supply: 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 · Spinal cord blood supply

Sample item

After repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, a man has paraplegia and loss of pain and temperature below the umbilicus, but vibration and joint position sense are preserved. Which structure's ischaemia best explains this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Anterior spinal artery territory (artery of Adamkiewicz)

The artery of Adamkiewicz reinforces the anterior spinal artery in the lower thoracic cord. Its loss infarcts the anterior two-thirds of the cord, including the corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts, while the posterior columns, supplied by the posterior spinal arteries, are spared.

Option by option

  • A. Anterior spinal artery territory (artery of Adamkiewicz) (correct)

    Correct. Anterior cord infarction removes motor and pain-temperature pathways but leaves dorsal column sensation.

  • B. Cauda equina nerve roots

    Cauda equina damage gives lower motor neurone signs, areflexia and sphincter involvement rather than a clean sensory level.

  • C. Posterior spinal arteries

    Posterior spinal artery ischaemia would affect the dorsal columns, giving loss of vibration and position sense.

  • D. Vertebral artery at the foramen magnum

    The vertebral artery supplies the upper cord and brainstem, so the picture would involve cranial signs and the arms.

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, Anterior spinal artery territory (artery of Adamkiewicz). The artery of Adamkiewicz reinforces the anterior spinal artery in the lower thoracic cord.

Why is "Cauda equina nerve roots" not the answer?

Cauda equina damage gives lower motor neurone signs, areflexia and sphincter involvement rather than a clean sensory level.

Why is "Posterior spinal arteries" not the answer?

Posterior spinal artery ischaemia would affect the dorsal columns, giving loss of vibration and position sense.

Why is "Vertebral artery at the foramen magnum" not the answer?

The vertebral artery supplies the upper cord and brainstem, so the picture would involve cranial signs and the arms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Spinal cord blood supply in Anatomy. Its loss infarcts the anterior two-thirds of the cord, including the corticospinal and spinothalamic tracts, while the posterior columns, supplied by the posterior spinal arteries, are spared.

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 Spinal cord blood supply?

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.