Embryology: neural crest: 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 · Embryology: neural crest

Sample item

A patient with MEN 2B has a medullary thyroid carcinoma, a phaeochromocytoma and mucosal neuromas. Which pair of normal structures both arise from neural crest?

AAdenohypophysis and adrenal medullaBAdrenal medulla and melanocytesCNeurohypophysis and dorsal root gangliaDAdrenal cortex and melanocytes

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Adrenal medulla and melanocytes

Neural crest gives rise to chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, melanocytes, dorsal root and autonomic ganglia, Schwann cells, parafollicular C cells and the aorticopulmonary septum. The adrenal cortex is mesodermal, and the adenohypophysis comes from the oral ectoderm of Rathke pouch. The neurohypophysis is neuroectoderm from the diencephalon, not neural crest.

Option by option

A. Adenohypophysis and adrenal medulla
The adenohypophysis arises from Rathke pouch, which is surface ectoderm.
B. Adrenal medulla and melanocytes (correct)
Correct. Both are classic neural crest derivatives.
C. Neurohypophysis and dorsal root ganglia
The neurohypophysis arises from the neuroectoderm of the diencephalon and not the crest.
D. Adrenal cortex and melanocytes
The adrenal cortex is derived from coelomic mesoderm.

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, Adrenal medulla and melanocytes. Neural crest gives rise to chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla, melanocytes, dorsal root and autonomic ganglia, Schwann cells, parafollicular C cells and the aorticopulmonary septum.

Why is "Adenohypophysis and adrenal medulla" not the answer?

The adenohypophysis arises from Rathke pouch, which is surface ectoderm.

Why is "Neurohypophysis and dorsal root ganglia" not the answer?

The neurohypophysis arises from the neuroectoderm of the diencephalon and not the crest.

Why is "Adrenal cortex and melanocytes" not the answer?

The adrenal cortex is derived from coelomic mesoderm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: neural crest in Anatomy. The adrenal cortex is mesodermal, and the adenohypophysis comes from the oral ectoderm of Rathke pouch. The neurohypophysis is neuroectoderm from the diencephalon, not neural crest.

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 Embryology: neural crest?

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.