Head and neck: nerve of the pterygoid canal: 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 · Head and neck: nerve of the pterygoid canal

Sample item

A skull base tumour in the pterygopalatine fossa gives dry eye and dry nasal mucosa. Parasympathetic secretomotor fibres reach the pterygopalatine ganglion through which nerve?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Nerve of the pterygoid canal

The greater petrosal nerve carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibres from the facial nerve and joins the deep petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, reaching the ganglion. Postganglionic fibres supply the lacrimal gland and nasal and palatine glands. The chorda tympani serves the submandibular and sublingual glands.

Option by option

  • A. Auriculotemporal nerve

    The auriculotemporal nerve carries postganglionic fibres from the otic ganglion to the parotid.

  • B. Lesser petrosal nerve

    The lesser petrosal nerve carries glossopharyngeal fibres to the otic ganglion.

  • C. Chorda tympani

    The chorda tympani joins the lingual nerve and supplies submandibular and sublingual glands.

  • D. Nerve of the pterygoid canal (correct)

    Correct. The nerve of the pterygoid canal carries the secretomotor fibres to the ganglion.

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, Nerve of the pterygoid canal. The greater petrosal nerve carries preganglionic parasympathetic fibres from the facial nerve and joins the deep petrosal nerve to form the nerve of the pterygoid canal, reaching the ganglion.

Why is "Auriculotemporal nerve" not the answer?

The auriculotemporal nerve carries postganglionic fibres from the otic ganglion to the parotid.

Why is "Lesser petrosal nerve" not the answer?

The lesser petrosal nerve carries glossopharyngeal fibres to the otic ganglion.

Why is "Chorda tympani" not the answer?

The chorda tympani joins the lingual nerve and supplies submandibular and sublingual glands.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: nerve of the pterygoid canal in Anatomy. Postganglionic fibres supply the lacrimal gland and nasal and palatine glands. The chorda tympani serves the submandibular and sublingual glands.

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 Head and neck: nerve of the pterygoid canal?

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.