Local anaesthetics: articaine: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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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Anaesthesia · Local anaesthetics: articaine

Sample item

Articaine, widely used in dental anaesthesia, has which distinguishing structural feature?

AA benzene ring with a simple ester linkage onlyBAn alcohol group at the aromatic endCA thiophene ring with an additional ester side chain hydrolysed by plasma esterasesDTwo amide linkages without any ester

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. A thiophene ring with an additional ester side chain hydrolysed by plasma esterases

Articaine is an amide local anaesthetic with a thiophene ring instead of a benzene ring and an ester group on the side chain. Plasma esterases hydrolyse it rapidly, giving a short elimination half-life and a favourable safety margin for repeated dental injections. It also diffuses well through bone and soft tissue.

Option by option

A. A benzene ring with a simple ester linkage only
A benzene ring with an ester is the structure of drugs such as procaine.
B. An alcohol group at the aromatic end
An alcohol group is not the distinguishing feature of articaine.
C. A thiophene ring with an additional ester side chain hydrolysed by plasma esterases (correct)
Correct. The thiophene ring and ester side chain are its distinguishing features.
D. Two amide linkages without any ester
Articaine contains an additional ester group, so it is not purely amide.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is C, A thiophene ring with an additional ester side chain hydrolysed by plasma esterases. Articaine is an amide local anaesthetic with a thiophene ring instead of a benzene ring and an ester group on the side chain.

Why is "A benzene ring with a simple ester linkage only" not the answer?

A benzene ring with an ester is the structure of drugs such as procaine.

Why is "An alcohol group at the aromatic end" not the answer?

An alcohol group is not the distinguishing feature of articaine.

Why is "Two amide linkages without any ester" not the answer?

Articaine contains an additional ester group, so it is not purely amide.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Local anaesthetics: articaine in Anaesthesia. Plasma esterases hydrolyse it rapidly, giving a short elimination half-life and a favourable safety margin for repeated dental injections. It also diffuses well through bone and soft tissue.

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 Local anaesthetics: articaine?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.