Head and neck: cavernous sinus: 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: cavernous sinus

Sample item

A cavernous sinus lesion causes impaired abduction of one eye. Which cranial nerve is affected?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Abducens nerve

CN VI travels centrally alongside the internal carotid artery within the cavernous sinus, making it especially vulnerable. It innervates lateral rectus, which abducts the eye.

Option by option

  • A. Ophthalmic nerve

    V1 is sensory and does not abduct the eye.

  • B. Oculomotor nerve

    CN III affects most extraocular muscles but is not the most centrally exposed nerve in the sinus.

  • C. Abducens nerve (correct)

    Correct. Abducens palsy causes failure of lateral gaze.

  • D. Trochlear nerve

    CN IV supplies superior oblique.

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 C, Abducens nerve. CN VI travels centrally alongside the internal carotid artery within the cavernous sinus, making it especially vulnerable.

Why is "Ophthalmic nerve" not the answer?

V1 is sensory and does not abduct the eye.

Why is "Oculomotor nerve" not the answer?

CN III affects most extraocular muscles but is not the most centrally exposed nerve in the sinus.

Why is "Trochlear nerve" not the answer?

CN IV supplies superior oblique.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: cavernous sinus in Anatomy. It innervates lateral rectus, which abducts the eye.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: cavernous sinus?

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.