Head and neck: pharyngeal arches: 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 · Head and neck: pharyngeal arches

Sample item

A patient has an injury to the mandibular nerve in the infratemporal fossa. Which of the following muscles, derived from the first pharyngeal arch, would be affected along with the muscles of mastication?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Tensor veli palatini

First-arch muscles are supplied by the mandibular nerve: the muscles of mastication, mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini. Stapedius belongs to the second arch, stylopharyngeus to the third, and cricothyroid to the fourth arch via the superior laryngeal nerve.

Option by option

  • A. Tensor veli palatini (correct)

    Correct. Tensor veli palatini is a first-arch muscle supplied through the nerve to the medial pterygoid.

  • B. Stylopharyngeus

    Stylopharyngeus is a third-arch muscle supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.

  • C. Stapedius

    Stapedius is a second-arch muscle supplied by the facial nerve.

  • D. Cricothyroid

    Cricothyroid is a fourth-arch muscle supplied by the external laryngeal nerve.

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, Tensor veli palatini. First-arch muscles are supplied by the mandibular nerve: the muscles of mastication, mylohyoid, anterior belly of digastric, tensor tympani and tensor veli palatini.

Why is "Stylopharyngeus" not the answer?

Stylopharyngeus is a third-arch muscle supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Why is "Stapedius" not the answer?

Stapedius is a second-arch muscle supplied by the facial nerve.

Why is "Cricothyroid" not the answer?

Cricothyroid is a fourth-arch muscle supplied by the external laryngeal nerve.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: pharyngeal arches in Anatomy. Stapedius belongs to the second arch, stylopharyngeus to the third, and cricothyroid to the fourth arch via the superior laryngeal nerve.

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 Head and neck: pharyngeal arches?

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.