Histology: ganglia: 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 · Histology: ganglia

Sample item

A 70-year-old woman has a painful vesicular rash in a band over the left T6 dermatome from reactivation of varicella-zoster virus. In which type of neuron was the virus latent?

AMultipolar postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic chainBPseudounipolar sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglionCBipolar neurons of the spinal grey matterDMultipolar alpha motor neurons of the anterior horn

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pseudounipolar sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion

Dorsal root ganglia contain pseudounipolar sensory neurons, each with a single process that divides into a peripheral and a central branch, surrounded by satellite cells. Varicella-zoster virus lies latent in these neurons and travels along the sensory nerve to the dermatome on reactivation. Autonomic ganglia contain multipolar neurons.

Option by option

A. Multipolar postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic chain
Sympathetic chain neurons are multipolar and efferent, not the site of sensory latency.
B. Pseudounipolar sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (correct)
Correct. The virus resides in sensory ganglion neurons, which are pseudounipolar.
C. Bipolar neurons of the spinal grey matter
True bipolar neurons are found in the retina, olfactory epithelium and vestibulocochlear ganglia, not the spinal grey matter.
D. Multipolar alpha motor neurons of the anterior horn
Motor neurons of the anterior horn are not the site of latency and the rash is sensory.

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, Pseudounipolar sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion. Dorsal root ganglia contain pseudounipolar sensory neurons, each with a single process that divides into a peripheral and a central branch, surrounded by satellite cells.

Why is "Multipolar postganglionic neurons of the sympathetic chain" not the answer?

Sympathetic chain neurons are multipolar and efferent, not the site of sensory latency.

Why is "Bipolar neurons of the spinal grey matter" not the answer?

True bipolar neurons are found in the retina, olfactory epithelium and vestibulocochlear ganglia, not the spinal grey matter.

Why is "Multipolar alpha motor neurons of the anterior horn" not the answer?

Motor neurons of the anterior horn are not the site of latency and the rash is sensory.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Histology: ganglia in Anatomy. Varicella-zoster virus lies latent in these neurons and travels along the sensory nerve to the dermatome on reactivation. Autonomic ganglia contain multipolar neurons.

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 Histology: ganglia?

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.