Referred pain: glossopharyngeal nerve: 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 · Referred pain: glossopharyngeal nerve

Sample item

A 7-year-old has right ear pain after tonsillectomy, although the ear is normal on examination. Which nerve is responsible for the referred pain?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Glossopharyngeal nerve through its tympanic branch

The tonsillar bed is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, which also gives the tympanic nerve (Jacobson nerve) to the middle ear mucosa through the tympanic plexus. Pain from the tonsil is therefore referred to the ear along the shared pathway. The ear itself is normal, so no otological cause is present.

Option by option

  • A. Auriculotemporal nerve

    The auriculotemporal nerve supplies the skin of the anterior ear and the temporomandibular joint.

  • B. Auricular branch of the vagus nerve

    The auricular branch of the vagus supplies the concha and the external auditory meatus.

  • C. Glossopharyngeal nerve through its tympanic branch (correct)

    Correct. The same nerve supplies the tonsillar bed and the middle ear mucosa.

  • D. Lesser occipital nerve

    The lesser occipital nerve supplies skin over the mastoid and the upper posterior ear.

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, Glossopharyngeal nerve through its tympanic branch. The tonsillar bed is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, which also gives the tympanic nerve (Jacobson nerve) to the middle ear mucosa through the tympanic plexus.

Why is "Auriculotemporal nerve" not the answer?

The auriculotemporal nerve supplies the skin of the anterior ear and the temporomandibular joint.

Why is "Auricular branch of the vagus nerve" not the answer?

The auricular branch of the vagus supplies the concha and the external auditory meatus.

Why is "Lesser occipital nerve" not the answer?

The lesser occipital nerve supplies skin over the mastoid and the upper posterior ear.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Referred pain: glossopharyngeal nerve in Anatomy. Pain from the tonsil is therefore referred to the ear along the shared pathway. The ear itself is normal, so no otological cause is present.

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 Referred pain: glossopharyngeal nerve?

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.