Abdomen and pelvis: inferior lumbar triangle: 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: inferior lumbar triangle

Sample item

A 62-year-old thin woman has a reducible bulge in the flank just above the iliac crest. The defect is bounded below by the iliac crest, laterally by the external oblique and medially by the latissimus dorsi. Through which triangle does the hernia protrude?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Inferior lumbar triangle (Petit)

Petit's triangle is bounded by the iliac crest, the free edge of external oblique and the free edge of latissimus dorsi, with internal oblique forming the floor. The superior lumbar triangle (Grynfeltt) lies higher, below the 12th rib. Hesselbach's triangle is in the groin.

Option by option

  • A. Superior lumbar triangle (Grynfeltt)

    The superior lumbar triangle is bounded by the 12th rib, internal oblique and erector spinae.

  • B. Femoral triangle

    The femoral triangle is in the thigh below the inguinal ligament.

  • C. Inferior lumbar triangle (Petit) (correct)

    Correct. Those three borders define the inferior lumbar triangle.

  • D. Inguinal triangle (Hesselbach)

    Hesselbach's triangle is in the groin, bounded by the inferior epigastric vessels, rectus and inguinal ligament.

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, Inferior lumbar triangle (Petit). Petit's triangle is bounded by the iliac crest, the free edge of external oblique and the free edge of latissimus dorsi, with internal oblique forming the floor.

Why is "Superior lumbar triangle (Grynfeltt)" not the answer?

The superior lumbar triangle is bounded by the 12th rib, internal oblique and erector spinae.

Why is "Femoral triangle" not the answer?

The femoral triangle is in the thigh below the inguinal ligament.

Why is "Inguinal triangle (Hesselbach)" not the answer?

Hesselbach's triangle is in the groin, bounded by the inferior epigastric vessels, rectus and inguinal ligament.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: inferior lumbar triangle in Anatomy. The superior lumbar triangle (Grynfeltt) lies higher, below the 12th rib. Hesselbach's triangle is in the groin.

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 Abdomen and pelvis: inferior lumbar triangle?

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.