Thorax: lungs and segments: 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 · Thorax: lungs and segments

Sample item

A 7-year-old child with pneumonia has a chest radiograph in which the left heart border is obliterated, while the left hemidiaphragm outline is still sharp. Which part of the lung is consolidated?

APosterior basal segment of the left lower lobeBApicoposterior segment of the left upper lobeCLingula of the left upper lobeDSuperior segment of the left lower lobe

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Lingula of the left upper lobe

The lingula of the left upper lobe lies against the left heart border and is the counterpart of the right middle lobe; its consolidation causes the silhouette sign with the heart. The left lung has two lobes and one oblique fissure, with a cardiac notch, while the right has three lobes and two fissures. Lower lobe consolidation instead blurs the diaphragm.

Option by option

A. Posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe
Posterior basal consolidation would obscure the hemidiaphragm, which is sharp here.
B. Apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe
The apicoposterior segment lies at the apex and does not touch the heart border.
C. Lingula of the left upper lobe (correct)
Correct. The lingula abuts the left heart border, so its consolidation effaces it.
D. Superior segment of the left lower lobe
The superior segment of the lower lobe is posterior and does not abut the heart border.

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 C, Lingula of the left upper lobe. The lingula of the left upper lobe lies against the left heart border and is the counterpart of the right middle lobe; its consolidation causes the silhouette sign with the heart.

Why is "Posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe" not the answer?

Posterior basal consolidation would obscure the hemidiaphragm, which is sharp here.

Why is "Apicoposterior segment of the left upper lobe" not the answer?

The apicoposterior segment lies at the apex and does not touch the heart border.

Why is "Superior segment of the left lower lobe" not the answer?

The superior segment of the lower lobe is posterior and does not abut the heart border.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: lungs and segments in Anatomy. The left lung has two lobes and one oblique fissure, with a cardiac notch, while the right has three lobes and two fissures. Lower lobe consolidation instead blurs the diaphragm.

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 Thorax: lungs and segments?

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.