Thorax: eparterial bronchus: 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 · Thorax: eparterial bronchus

Sample item

On a CT of the right hilum, the upper lobe bronchus arises above the level of the right pulmonary artery, whereas on the left the artery arches over the main bronchus. What is the right upper lobe bronchus called?

AEparterial bronchusBIntermediate bronchusCHyparterial bronchusDApical segmental bronchus

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Eparterial bronchus

The right upper lobe bronchus lies above (epi) the pulmonary artery and is the eparterial bronchus. All other lobar bronchi lie below the artery and are hyparterial. The intermediate bronchus is the part of the right main bronchus after the upper lobe origin.

Option by option

A. Eparterial bronchus (correct)
Correct. The bronchus lying above the pulmonary artery is eparterial.
B. Intermediate bronchus
The intermediate bronchus is the continuation of the main bronchus below the upper lobe origin.
C. Hyparterial bronchus
Hyparterial bronchi are the lobar bronchi lying below the pulmonary artery.
D. Apical segmental bronchus
The apical segmental bronchus is a branch of the upper lobe bronchus, not the lobar bronchus itself.

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, Eparterial bronchus. The right upper lobe bronchus lies above (epi) the pulmonary artery and is the eparterial bronchus.

Why is "Intermediate bronchus" not the answer?

The intermediate bronchus is the continuation of the main bronchus below the upper lobe origin.

Why is "Hyparterial bronchus" not the answer?

Hyparterial bronchi are the lobar bronchi lying below the pulmonary artery.

Why is "Apical segmental bronchus" not the answer?

The apical segmental bronchus is a branch of the upper lobe bronchus, not the lobar bronchus itself.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: eparterial bronchus in Anatomy. All other lobar bronchi lie below the artery and are hyparterial. The intermediate bronchus is the part of the right main bronchus after the upper lobe origin.

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: eparterial bronchus?

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.