Ear and audiology: sensory supply of external ear: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Ear and audiology: sensory supply of external ear

Sample item

A surgeon planning a block for the anterior wall of the external auditory canal and the tragus needs to know the sensory nerve to this area. Which nerve is it?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Auriculotemporal nerve

The auriculotemporal branch of the mandibular nerve supplies the tragus, the anterior canal wall and the anterior part of the pinna and drum. The great auricular and lesser occipital nerves supply the lower and posterior pinna. The vagus (Arnold's nerve) supplies the floor and posterior canal wall.

Option by option

  • A. Great auricular nerve

    It supplies the lobule and posterior pinna, not the anterior canal.

  • B. Facial nerve

    The facial nerve gives only a small sensory contribution to the concha and posterior canal.

  • C. Auriculotemporal nerve (correct)

    Correct. It is a branch of V3 and carries sensation from the anterior canal and tragus.

  • D. Lesser occipital nerve

    It supplies the upper medial part of the posterior pinna.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is C, Auriculotemporal nerve. The auriculotemporal branch of the mandibular nerve supplies the tragus, the anterior canal wall and the anterior part of the pinna and drum.

Why is "Great auricular nerve" not the answer?

It supplies the lobule and posterior pinna, not the anterior canal.

Why is "Facial nerve" not the answer?

The facial nerve gives only a small sensory contribution to the concha and posterior canal.

Why is "Lesser occipital nerve" not the answer?

It supplies the upper medial part of the posterior pinna.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: sensory supply of external ear in ENT. The great auricular and lesser occipital nerves supply the lower and posterior pinna. The vagus (Arnold's nerve) supplies the floor and posterior canal wall.

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 Ear and audiology: sensory supply of external ear?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.