General anatomy and histology: Brunner glands: 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 · General anatomy and histology: Brunner glands

Sample item

A biopsy from the first part of the duodenum shows branched, coiled mucous glands that cross the muscularis mucosae and lie in the submucosa. What is the main protective role of their secretion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Neutralising gastric acid with alkaline, bicarbonate-rich mucus

Submucosal glands are a hallmark of the duodenum. They secrete alkaline mucus that protects the mucosa from acid chyme entering from the stomach. Their number falls from the proximal to the distal duodenum.

Option by option

  • A. Digesting peptides at the brush border with membrane enzymes

    Brush border peptidases are membrane enzymes of enterocytes, not a gland secretion.

  • B. Killing luminal bacteria with lysozyme and defensins

    Lysozyme and defensins come from Paneth cells at the base of the crypts.

  • C. Supplying intrinsic factor for vitamin B12 absorption

    Intrinsic factor is made by gastric parietal cells, not by duodenal glands.

  • D. Neutralising gastric acid with alkaline, bicarbonate-rich mucus (correct)

    Correct. Duodenal submucosal (Brunner) glands secrete alkaline mucus rich in bicarbonate.

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 D, Neutralising gastric acid with alkaline, bicarbonate-rich mucus. Submucosal glands are a hallmark of the duodenum.

Why is "Digesting peptides at the brush border with membrane enzymes" not the answer?

Brush border peptidases are membrane enzymes of enterocytes, not a gland secretion.

Why is "Killing luminal bacteria with lysozyme and defensins" not the answer?

Lysozyme and defensins come from Paneth cells at the base of the crypts.

Why is "Supplying intrinsic factor for vitamin B12 absorption" not the answer?

Intrinsic factor is made by gastric parietal cells, not by duodenal glands.

What concept does this question test?

It tests General anatomy and histology: Brunner glands in Anatomy. They secrete alkaline mucus that protects the mucosa from acid chyme entering from the stomach. Their number falls from the proximal to the distal duodenum.

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 General anatomy and histology: Brunner glands?

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.