Abdomen and pelvis: valves of Houston: 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 · Abdomen and pelvis: valves of Houston

Sample item

A sigmoidoscope passed into the rectum meets three transverse semilunar folds. The largest and most constant fold lies at the level of the anterior peritoneal reflection. Which fold is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Middle rectal valve

The rectum has three transverse folds. The middle one, also called Kohlrausch's fold, is the largest and lies at the level of the anterior peritoneal reflection. Anal valves are small folds at the lower ends of the anal columns at the pectinate line.

Option by option

  • A. Inferior rectal valve

    The inferior valve lies lower in the ampulla, below the peritoneal reflection.

  • B. Anal valve

    Anal valves are small crescentic folds at the lower end of the anal columns, not rectal folds.

  • C. Middle rectal valve (correct)

    Correct. The middle valve is the largest and marks the peritoneal reflection.

  • D. Superior rectal valve

    The superior valve lies higher, near the rectosigmoid junction, above the peritoneal reflection.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Middle rectal valve. The rectum has three transverse folds.

Why is "Inferior rectal valve" not the answer?

The inferior valve lies lower in the ampulla, below the peritoneal reflection.

Why is "Anal valve" not the answer?

Anal valves are small crescentic folds at the lower end of the anal columns, not rectal folds.

Why is "Superior rectal valve" not the answer?

The superior valve lies higher, near the rectosigmoid junction, above the peritoneal reflection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: valves of Houston in Anatomy. The middle one, also called Kohlrausch's fold, is the largest and lies at the level of the anterior peritoneal reflection. Anal valves are small folds at the lower ends of the anal columns at the pectinate line.

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 Abdomen and pelvis: valves of Houston?

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.