Thorax: lymphatic drainage of the lung: 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: lymphatic drainage of the lung

Sample item

A patient with bronchogenic carcinoma has enlarged tracheobronchial (carinal) nodes on CT. Which vessel normally carries lymph from these nodes onward on each side?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Bronchomediastinal trunk

Lung lymph passes from pulmonary and bronchopulmonary (hilar) nodes to the tracheobronchial nodes and then to the right and left bronchomediastinal trunks. These join the right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct, or drain directly into the great veins at the venous angle. Carinal node enlargement may widen the carina on bronchoscopy.

Option by option

  • A. Bronchomediastinal trunk (correct)

    Correct. The bronchomediastinal trunk drains the thoracic viscera including the lungs.

  • B. Intestinal trunk

    The intestinal trunk drains the abdominal gut and joins the cisterna chyli.

  • C. Jugular trunk

    The jugular trunk drains the head and neck.

  • D. Subclavian trunk

    The subclavian trunk drains the upper limb.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Bronchomediastinal trunk. Lung lymph passes from pulmonary and bronchopulmonary (hilar) nodes to the tracheobronchial nodes and then to the right and left bronchomediastinal trunks.

Why is "Intestinal trunk" not the answer?

The intestinal trunk drains the abdominal gut and joins the cisterna chyli.

Why is "Jugular trunk" not the answer?

The jugular trunk drains the head and neck.

Why is "Subclavian trunk" not the answer?

The subclavian trunk drains the upper limb.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: lymphatic drainage of the lung in Anatomy. These join the right lymphatic duct or thoracic duct, or drain directly into the great veins at the venous angle. Carinal node enlargement may widen the carina on bronchoscopy.

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: lymphatic drainage of the lung?

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.