Embryology: horseshoe kidney: 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 · Embryology: horseshoe kidney

Sample item

A 10-year-old girl with Turner syndrome is found to have fused lower poles of both kidneys lying low in the abdomen. Which structure prevents the ascent of the fused kidney?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Inferior mesenteric artery

In a horseshoe kidney the lower poles fuse and the isthmus is trapped beneath the inferior mesenteric artery, which stops ascent from the pelvis. The kidney therefore lies low, with impaired drainage predisposing to infection and stones. It is commonly associated with Turner syndrome.

Option by option

  • A. Superior mesenteric artery

    The superior mesenteric artery lies higher and does not stop the lower fused isthmus.

  • B. Coeliac trunk

    The coeliac trunk lies at T12 and is not the barrier.

  • C. Inferior mesenteric artery (correct)

    Correct. The isthmus gets caught under the inferior mesenteric artery.

  • D. Renal artery

    The renal arteries form from the kidney's blood supply and do not block the ascent.

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, Inferior mesenteric artery. In a horseshoe kidney the lower poles fuse and the isthmus is trapped beneath the inferior mesenteric artery, which stops ascent from the pelvis.

Why is "Superior mesenteric artery" not the answer?

The superior mesenteric artery lies higher and does not stop the lower fused isthmus.

Why is "Coeliac trunk" not the answer?

The coeliac trunk lies at T12 and is not the barrier.

Why is "Renal artery" not the answer?

The renal arteries form from the kidney's blood supply and do not block the ascent.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: horseshoe kidney in Anatomy. The kidney therefore lies low, with impaired drainage predisposing to infection and stones. It is commonly associated with Turner syndrome.

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 Embryology: horseshoe kidney?

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.