Head and neck: pituitary: 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.

Try it

Anatomy · Head and neck: pituitary

Sample item

A pituitary macroadenoma produces bitemporal hemianopia by compressing which structure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Optic chiasm

The optic chiasm lies superior to the pituitary gland. Compression disrupts crossing nasal retinal fibres, which carry temporal visual-field information.

Option by option

  • A. Lateral geniculate body

    Lateral geniculate lesions cause homonymous visual deficits, not bitemporal loss.

  • B. Optic chiasm (correct)

    Correct. Chiasmal compression causes loss of temporal fields in both eyes.

  • C. Occipital cortex

    Occipital lesions cause homonymous field defects.

  • D. Optic tract

    Optic-tract lesions produce contralateral homonymous hemianopia.

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 B, Optic chiasm. The optic chiasm lies superior to the pituitary gland.

Why is "Lateral geniculate body" not the answer?

Lateral geniculate lesions cause homonymous visual deficits, not bitemporal loss.

Why is "Occipital cortex" not the answer?

Occipital lesions cause homonymous field defects.

Why is "Optic tract" not the answer?

Optic-tract lesions produce contralateral homonymous hemianopia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: pituitary in Anatomy. Compression disrupts crossing nasal retinal fibres, which carry temporal visual-field information.

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: pituitary?

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.