Abdomen and pelvis: stomach: 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 and pelvis: stomach

Sample item

A man with a chronic posterior-wall gastric ulcer in the body of the stomach has persistent back pain after meals. Through the lesser sac, the ulcer has most probably penetrated into which structure?

ALeft lobe of the liverBBody of the pancreasCAnterior abdominal wallDGallbladder

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Body of the pancreas

The structures forming the stomach bed lie behind the lesser sac and include the pancreas, splenic artery, left kidney and suprarenal, spleen and transverse mesocolon. A posterior ulcer can penetrate into the pancreas, causing back pain, and can erode the splenic artery to cause haemorrhage. Anterior ulcers adhere to the liver or abdominal wall.

Option by option

A. Left lobe of the liver
The left lobe of the liver is an anterior relation of the stomach.
B. Body of the pancreas (correct)
Correct. The pancreas forms part of the stomach bed behind the lesser sac.
C. Anterior abdominal wall
The anterior abdominal wall is an anterior relation, and anterior ulcers perforate into the peritoneal cavity.
D. Gallbladder
The gallbladder is related to the duodenum and liver and not to the posterior wall of the gastric body.

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 B, Body of the pancreas. The structures forming the stomach bed lie behind the lesser sac and include the pancreas, splenic artery, left kidney and suprarenal, spleen and transverse mesocolon.

Why is "Left lobe of the liver" not the answer?

The left lobe of the liver is an anterior relation of the stomach.

Why is "Anterior abdominal wall" not the answer?

The anterior abdominal wall is an anterior relation, and anterior ulcers perforate into the peritoneal cavity.

Why is "Gallbladder" not the answer?

The gallbladder is related to the duodenum and liver and not to the posterior wall of the gastric body.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: stomach in Anatomy. A posterior ulcer can penetrate into the pancreas, causing back pain, and can erode the splenic artery to cause haemorrhage. Anterior ulcers adhere to the liver or 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 and pelvis: stomach?

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.