Ear and audiology: foramen of Huschke: 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: foramen of Huschke

Sample item

A 3-year-old child has a normal canal, and a defect is noted in the anteroinferior bony canal wall at the tympanic plate. Which statement about the foramen of Huschke is correct?

AIt transmits the chorda tympaniBIt is a developmental defect that normally closes by about 5 years of ageCIt is a defect that normally appears at 40 yearsDIt lies in the pars flaccida of the drum

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. It is a developmental defect that normally closes by about 5 years of age

The tympanic plate ossifies from several centres, and a deficiency may persist in early childhood as the foramen of Huschke. It normally closes by 4 to 5 years. If it persists it allows spread of infection or a tumour between the canal and parotid and may cause herniation of the gland into the canal.

Option by option

A. It transmits the chorda tympani
The chorda tympani passes through the iter chordae anterius and posterius.
B. It is a developmental defect that normally closes by about 5 years of age (correct)
Correct. It is a normal childhood defect that closes by about 5 years.
C. It is a defect that normally appears at 40 years
It is a persistent childhood defect, not an adult one.
D. It lies in the pars flaccida of the drum
It is part of the tympanic plate of the bony canal, not the drum.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, It is a developmental defect that normally closes by about 5 years of age. The tympanic plate ossifies from several centres, and a deficiency may persist in early childhood as the foramen of Huschke.

Why is "It transmits the chorda tympani" not the answer?

The chorda tympani passes through the iter chordae anterius and posterius.

Why is "It is a defect that normally appears at 40 years" not the answer?

It is a persistent childhood defect, not an adult one.

Why is "It lies in the pars flaccida of the drum" not the answer?

It is part of the tympanic plate of the bony canal, not the drum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: foramen of Huschke in ENT. It normally closes by 4 to 5 years. If it persists it allows spread of infection or a tumour between the canal and parotid and may cause herniation of the gland into the canal.

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: foramen of Huschke?

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.