Normal pregnancy and antenatal care: Hofbauer cells: practice question

A OBG 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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OBG · Normal pregnancy and antenatal care: Hofbauer cells

Sample item

A term placenta is examined microscopically. The core of the chorionic villi contains large, round, vacuolated cells that act as macrophages and are of fetal origin. Which cells are these?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Hofbauer cells

Hofbauer cells are fetal macrophages in the mesenchymal core of the villi. They are more numerous in early pregnancy and are thought to take part in villous development and immune defence. They should be distinguished from the trophoblast layers that cover the villus.

Option by option

  • A. Hofbauer cells (correct)

    Correct. They lie in the villous stroma and are of fetal mesenchymal origin.

  • B. Syncytiotrophoblast cells

    Syncytiotrophoblast is the outer multinucleated layer in contact with maternal blood.

  • C. Decidual cells

    Decidual cells are large polygonal cells of the maternal endometrium, not fetal cells.

  • D. Langhans cells

    Langhans cells are the cytotrophoblast, which forms the inner cuboidal layer covering the villus and not the stromal core.

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 OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is A, Hofbauer cells. Hofbauer cells are fetal macrophages in the mesenchymal core of the villi.

Why is "Syncytiotrophoblast cells" not the answer?

Syncytiotrophoblast is the outer multinucleated layer in contact with maternal blood.

Why is "Decidual cells" not the answer?

Decidual cells are large polygonal cells of the maternal endometrium, not fetal cells.

Why is "Langhans cells" not the answer?

Langhans cells are the cytotrophoblast, which forms the inner cuboidal layer covering the villus and not the stromal core.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Normal pregnancy and antenatal care: Hofbauer cells in OBG. They are more numerous in early pregnancy and are thought to take part in villous development and immune defence. They should be distinguished from the trophoblast layers that cover the villus.

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 Normal pregnancy and antenatal care: Hofbauer cells?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG 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.