Histology: basement membrane collagen: 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 · Histology: basement membrane collagen

Sample item

A 28-year-old smoker has haemoptysis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, with linear IgG deposition along the glomerular basement membrane. The autoantibodies bind the non-collagenous domain of which collagen, the main collagen of the lamina densa?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Type IV collagen

Type IV collagen forms a sheet-like network in the lamina densa of basement membranes, and its alpha-3 chain is the target in anti-GBM disease (Goodpasture syndrome). Alveolar and glomerular basement membranes share this antigen, explaining lung and kidney involvement. Other collagens have different locations.

Option by option

  • A. Type III collagen

    Type III collagen forms reticular fibres in lymphoid organs, liver and vessel walls.

  • B. Type IV collagen (correct)

    Correct. Type IV collagen is the network-forming collagen of the basement membrane.

  • C. Type II collagen

    Type II collagen is the main collagen of hyaline cartilage and the vitreous.

  • D. Type I collagen

    Type I collagen is the main collagen of skin, tendon and bone and is not a basement membrane component.

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 Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Type IV collagen. Type IV collagen forms a sheet-like network in the lamina densa of basement membranes, and its alpha-3 chain is the target in anti-GBM disease (Goodpasture syndrome).

Why is "Type III collagen" not the answer?

Type III collagen forms reticular fibres in lymphoid organs, liver and vessel walls.

Why is "Type II collagen" not the answer?

Type II collagen is the main collagen of hyaline cartilage and the vitreous.

Why is "Type I collagen" not the answer?

Type I collagen is the main collagen of skin, tendon and bone and is not a basement membrane component.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Histology: basement membrane collagen in Anatomy. Alveolar and glomerular basement membranes share this antigen, explaining lung and kidney involvement. Other collagens have different locations.

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 Histology: basement membrane collagen?

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.