Neuroanatomy: Broca area: 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: Broca area

Sample item

A 60-year-old right-handed man after a stroke speaks slowly and with effort in short telegraphic phrases. He understands commands, but cannot repeat sentences, and has right facial and arm weakness. Which region is damaged?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Posterior part of the left inferior frontal gyrus

This is Broca (expressive, non-fluent) aphasia, caused by damage to the pars triangularis and pars opercularis (areas 44 and 45) of the dominant inferior frontal gyrus. Comprehension is preserved. Adjacent motor cortex involvement explains the contralateral face and arm weakness.

Option by option

  • A. Right inferior frontal gyrus

    The right inferior frontal gyrus controls the emotional tone of speech, and its damage causes aprosodia.

  • B. Posterior part of the left superior temporal gyrus

    The posterior superior temporal gyrus is Wernicke area, and its damage gives fluent speech with poor comprehension.

  • C. Posterior part of the left inferior frontal gyrus (correct)

    The dominant inferior frontal gyrus is the motor speech area and its damage causes non-fluent aphasia.

  • D. Left angular gyrus

    The angular gyrus lesion produces alexia with agraphia, finger agnosia and acalculia, as in Gerstmann syndrome.

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 C, Posterior part of the left inferior frontal gyrus. This is Broca (expressive, non-fluent) aphasia, caused by damage to the pars triangularis and pars opercularis (areas 44 and 45) of the dominant inferior frontal gyrus.

Why is "Right inferior frontal gyrus" not the answer?

The right inferior frontal gyrus controls the emotional tone of speech, and its damage causes aprosodia.

Why is "Posterior part of the left superior temporal gyrus" not the answer?

The posterior superior temporal gyrus is Wernicke area, and its damage gives fluent speech with poor comprehension.

Why is "Left angular gyrus" not the answer?

The angular gyrus lesion produces alexia with agraphia, finger agnosia and acalculia, as in Gerstmann syndrome.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: Broca area in Anatomy. Comprehension is preserved. Adjacent motor cortex involvement explains the contralateral face and arm weakness.

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 Neuroanatomy: Broca area?

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.