Thorax: breast anatomy: 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 · Thorax: breast anatomy

Sample item

A 52-year-old woman has a firm lump in the upper outer quadrant of the breast with skin dimpling and nipple retraction. Which anatomical structures shortened by the tumour explain skin dimpling?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Suspensory ligaments of Cooper

The suspensory ligaments of Cooper are fibrous septa that connect the dermis to the deep fascia through the breast. Infiltrating carcinoma shortens them, tethering the skin and causing dimpling, whereas lymphatic blockage produces peau d'orange. Tumour involvement of the lactiferous ducts causes nipple retraction.

Option by option

  • A. Suspensory ligaments of Cooper (correct)

    Correct. Tethering of Cooper ligaments pulls the skin inward as dimpling.

  • B. Lactiferous sinuses

    The lactiferous sinuses relate to nipple retraction and discharge, not to dimpling of overlying skin.

  • C. Pectoral fascia

    Fixation to pectoral fascia limits mobility of the lump on contracting the muscle rather than causing dimpling.

  • D. Axillary tail fascia

    The axillary tail is the extension towards the axilla and does not tether the skin to produce dimpling.

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 A, Suspensory ligaments of Cooper. The suspensory ligaments of Cooper are fibrous septa that connect the dermis to the deep fascia through the breast.

Why is "Lactiferous sinuses" not the answer?

The lactiferous sinuses relate to nipple retraction and discharge, not to dimpling of overlying skin.

Why is "Pectoral fascia" not the answer?

Fixation to pectoral fascia limits mobility of the lump on contracting the muscle rather than causing dimpling.

Why is "Axillary tail fascia" not the answer?

The axillary tail is the extension towards the axilla and does not tether the skin to produce dimpling.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: breast anatomy in Anatomy. Infiltrating carcinoma shortens them, tethering the skin and causing dimpling, whereas lymphatic blockage produces peau d'orange. Tumour involvement of the lactiferous ducts causes nipple retraction.

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 Thorax: breast anatomy?

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.