Pelvis: obturator nerve: 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.

Try it

Anatomy · Pelvis: obturator nerve

Sample item

A 28-year-old woman has a cyst in the ovarian fossa and complains of aching pain along the inner thigh. Which nerve accounts for this referred pain?

AObturator nerveBFemoral branch of the genitofemoral nerveCFemoral nerveDLateral femoral cutaneous nerve

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Obturator nerve

The ovary lies in the ovarian fossa on the lateral pelvic wall, where the obturator nerve (L2 to L4) passes just behind. Irritation of the peritoneum in the fossa refers pain to the medial thigh, the cutaneous territory of this nerve.

Option by option

A. Obturator nerve (correct)
Correct. The obturator nerve lies on the wall of the fossa and supplies the medial thigh skin.
B. Femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve
The femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve supplies a small patch of skin below the mid-inguinal point.
C. Femoral nerve
The femoral nerve supplies the anterior thigh and does not lie in the ovarian fossa.
D. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies the lateral thigh.

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 A, Obturator nerve. The ovary lies in the ovarian fossa on the lateral pelvic wall, where the obturator nerve (L2 to L4) passes just behind.

Why is "Femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve" not the answer?

The femoral branch of the genitofemoral nerve supplies a small patch of skin below the mid-inguinal point.

Why is "Femoral nerve" not the answer?

The femoral nerve supplies the anterior thigh and does not lie in the ovarian fossa.

Why is "Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve" not the answer?

The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve supplies the lateral thigh.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pelvis: obturator nerve in Anatomy. Irritation of the peritoneum in the fossa refers pain to the medial thigh, the cutaneous territory of this 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 Pelvis: obturator nerve?

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.