Neuroanatomy: spinal cord: 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 · Neuroanatomy: spinal cord

Sample item

A hemisection of the right spinal cord at T10 causes loss of pain and temperature on which side below the lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Left side, beginning a few segments below

Spinothalamic fibres ascend briefly before crossing in the anterior white commissure. A right hemicord lesion therefore causes contralateral pain-temperature loss beginning slightly below the level.

Option by option

  • A. Right side at the same level only

    At the lesion level there may be segmental ipsilateral sensory loss, but this is not the main long-tract pattern.

  • B. Left side, beginning a few segments below (correct)

    Correct. Decussated spinothalamic fibres from the left ascend on the right.

  • C. Right side below the lesion

    Ipsilateral loss below the lesion is the dorsal-column pattern.

  • D. Both sides symmetrically

    A hemisection does not ordinarily cause symmetric bilateral loss.

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, Left side, beginning a few segments below. Spinothalamic fibres ascend briefly before crossing in the anterior white commissure.

Why is "Right side at the same level only" not the answer?

At the lesion level there may be segmental ipsilateral sensory loss, but this is not the main long-tract pattern.

Why is "Right side below the lesion" not the answer?

Ipsilateral loss below the lesion is the dorsal-column pattern.

Why is "Both sides symmetrically" not the answer?

A hemisection does not ordinarily cause symmetric bilateral loss.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: spinal cord in Anatomy. A right hemicord lesion therefore causes contralateral pain-temperature loss beginning slightly below the level.

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 Neuroanatomy: spinal cord?

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.