Histology: spleen: 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: spleen

Sample item

A 24-year-old man has a blood film two weeks after splenectomy for trauma. It shows red cells with single round basophilic nuclear remnants (Howell-Jolly bodies). Which splenic compartment normally removes these inclusions?

ARed pulp, through macrophages of the splenic cords and sinusesBSplenic trabeculae and capsuleCPeriarteriolar lymphoid sheath of the white pulpDMarginal zone follicles of the white pulp

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Red pulp, through macrophages of the splenic cords and sinuses

The red pulp consists of splenic cords and venous sinusoids lined by macrophages. Red cells must squeeze through slits in the sinus wall, and macrophages pit out nuclear remnants and remove aged cells. After splenectomy this filtering is lost, so Howell-Jolly bodies appear and the patient also needs vaccination against encapsulated organisms.

Option by option

A. Red pulp, through macrophages of the splenic cords and sinuses (correct)
Correct. The red pulp macrophages pit out inclusions and cull old red cells.
B. Splenic trabeculae and capsule
Trabeculae and capsule are connective tissue support and are not the site where red cell inclusions are removed.
C. Periarteriolar lymphoid sheath of the white pulp
The periarteriolar lymphoid sheath is a T-cell zone and does not filter red cells.
D. Marginal zone follicles of the white pulp
The marginal zone is part of the white pulp and handles blood-borne antigens, not red cell inclusions.

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.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Red pulp, through macrophages of the splenic cords and sinuses. The red pulp consists of splenic cords and venous sinusoids lined by macrophages.

Why is "Splenic trabeculae and capsule" not the answer?

Trabeculae and capsule are connective tissue support and are not the site where red cell inclusions are removed.

Why is "Periarteriolar lymphoid sheath of the white pulp" not the answer?

The periarteriolar lymphoid sheath is a T-cell zone and does not filter red cells.

Why is "Marginal zone follicles of the white pulp" not the answer?

The marginal zone is part of the white pulp and handles blood-borne antigens, not red cell inclusions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Histology: spleen in Anatomy. Red cells must squeeze through slits in the sinus wall, and macrophages pit out nuclear remnants and remove aged cells. After splenectomy this filtering is lost, so Howell-Jolly bodies appear and the patient also needs vaccination against encapsulated organisms.

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 Histology: spleen?

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.