Lower limb: popliteal cyst: 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 · Lower limb: popliteal cyst

Sample item

A 55-year-old woman with knee osteoarthritis has a soft swelling in the popliteal fossa that is more prominent on knee extension. It communicates with the joint. Which bursa is typically involved?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Semimembranosus bursa

A Baker cyst is a distension of the bursa between the semimembranosus tendon and the medial head of gastrocnemius that communicates with the knee joint. It is commonly seen in osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis.

Option by option

  • A. Infrapatellar bursa

    This bursa lies beneath the patellar ligament and is anterior.

  • B. Semimembranosus bursa (correct)

    Correct. This bursa lies behind the knee and often communicates with the joint.

  • C. Prepatellar bursa

    This bursa lies in front of the patella and gives housemaid's knee.

  • D. Pes anserine bursa

    This bursa lies medially below the knee beneath the tendons of sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus.

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 B, Semimembranosus bursa. A Baker cyst is a distension of the bursa between the semimembranosus tendon and the medial head of gastrocnemius that communicates with the knee joint.

Why is "Infrapatellar bursa" not the answer?

This bursa lies beneath the patellar ligament and is anterior.

Why is "Prepatellar bursa" not the answer?

This bursa lies in front of the patella and gives housemaid's knee.

Why is "Pes anserine bursa" not the answer?

This bursa lies medially below the knee beneath the tendons of sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: popliteal cyst in Anatomy. It is commonly seen in osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis.

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 Lower limb: popliteal cyst?

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.