Abdomen: pancreatic head blood supply: 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: pancreatic head blood supply

Sample item

In pancreaticoduodenectomy for a periampullary tumour, the surgeon also removes the duodenum along with the pancreatic head. Which arteries, forming anastomosing arcades, supply both structures?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries

The head of the pancreas and the C-loop of the duodenum share their blood supply from the anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries (from the gastroduodenal artery) and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (from the superior mesenteric artery), which anastomose to form arcades. Removing the head devascularises the duodenum.

Option by option

  • A. Superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries (correct)

    Correct. These shared arcades supply both head and duodenum.

  • B. Left gastric and splenic arteries

    The left gastric and splenic arteries supply the stomach and spleen, and the body and tail of the pancreas via splenic branches.

  • C. Dorsal pancreatic and great pancreatic arteries

    The dorsal and great pancreatic arteries are splenic or SMA branches supplying mainly the body of the gland.

  • D. Right gastroepiploic and short gastric arteries

    The right gastroepiploic and short gastric arteries supply the greater curvature of the stomach.

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 A, Superior and inferior pancreaticoduodenal arteries. The head of the pancreas and the C-loop of the duodenum share their blood supply from the anterior and posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries (from the gastroduodenal artery) and the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery (from the superior mesenteric artery), which anastomose to form arcades.

Why is "Left gastric and splenic arteries" not the answer?

The left gastric and splenic arteries supply the stomach and spleen, and the body and tail of the pancreas via splenic branches.

Why is "Dorsal pancreatic and great pancreatic arteries" not the answer?

The dorsal and great pancreatic arteries are splenic or SMA branches supplying mainly the body of the gland.

Why is "Right gastroepiploic and short gastric arteries" not the answer?

The right gastroepiploic and short gastric arteries supply the greater curvature of the stomach.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen: pancreatic head blood supply in Anatomy. Removing the head devascularises the duodenum.

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: pancreatic head blood supply?

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.