Head and neck: submandibular duct: 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: submandibular duct

Sample item

A surgeon plans transoral removal of a stone from the distal submandibular (Wharton) duct and takes care not to injure the nerve that loops under the duct from lateral to medial. Which nerve is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Lingual nerve

In the floor of the mouth the lingual nerve crosses the submandibular duct from lateral to medial, hooking beneath it, and is vulnerable in surgery for stones. The hypoglossal nerve runs lower on the hyoglossus and does not cross the duct.

Option by option

  • A. Hypoglossal nerve

    The hypoglossal nerve lies inferior to the duct and gland and does not cross the duct.

  • B. Nerve to mylohyoid

    The nerve to mylohyoid lies below the mylohyoid and supplies the muscle and anterior belly of digastric.

  • C. Chorda tympani

    The chorda tympani joins the lingual nerve higher in the infratemporal fossa.

  • D. Lingual nerve (correct)

    Correct. The lingual nerve loops under Wharton duct.

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, Lingual nerve. In the floor of the mouth the lingual nerve crosses the submandibular duct from lateral to medial, hooking beneath it, and is vulnerable in surgery for stones.

Why is "Hypoglossal nerve" not the answer?

The hypoglossal nerve lies inferior to the duct and gland and does not cross the duct.

Why is "Nerve to mylohyoid" not the answer?

The nerve to mylohyoid lies below the mylohyoid and supplies the muscle and anterior belly of digastric.

Why is "Chorda tympani" not the answer?

The chorda tympani joins the lingual nerve higher in the infratemporal fossa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: submandibular duct in Anatomy. The hypoglossal nerve runs lower on the hyoglossus and does not cross the duct.

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: submandibular duct?

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.