Head and neck: extraocular muscles: 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 · Head and neck: extraocular muscles

Sample item

A man has a complete right oculomotor nerve palsy from a posterior communicating artery aneurysm. Which extraocular muscles of the right eye still function?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Lateral rectus and superior oblique

Lateral rectus is supplied by the abducens nerve (LR6) and superior oblique by the trochlear nerve (SO4); all remaining extraocular muscles are supplied by the oculomotor nerve. With a complete oculomotor palsy the eye lies down and out, with ptosis and a dilated pupil, but abduction and intorsion on downward gaze remain.

Option by option

  • A. Lateral rectus and superior oblique (correct)

    Correct. These two are not supplied by the oculomotor nerve.

  • B. Superior rectus and lateral rectus

    Superior rectus is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

  • C. Lateral rectus and medial rectus

    Medial rectus is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

  • D. Superior oblique and inferior oblique

    Inferior oblique is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

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, Lateral rectus and superior oblique. Lateral rectus is supplied by the abducens nerve (LR6) and superior oblique by the trochlear nerve (SO4); all remaining extraocular muscles are supplied by the oculomotor nerve.

Why is "Superior rectus and lateral rectus" not the answer?

Superior rectus is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

Why is "Lateral rectus and medial rectus" not the answer?

Medial rectus is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

Why is "Superior oblique and inferior oblique" not the answer?

Inferior oblique is supplied by the oculomotor nerve and is paralysed.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: extraocular muscles in Anatomy. With a complete oculomotor palsy the eye lies down and out, with ptosis and a dilated pupil, but abduction and intorsion on downward gaze remain.

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 Head and neck: extraocular muscles?

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.