Lower limb: gluteus medius lurch: 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: gluteus medius lurch

Sample item

A woman with weak right abductors after surgery walks with her trunk leaning to the right over the stance leg, to keep the pelvis level. Which term describes this compensation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Compensated Trendelenburg gait

In weakness of gluteus medius and minimus, the trunk is shifted towards the weak side during stance to bring the centre of gravity over the hip and reduce the pelvic drop. This is a compensated Trendelenburg gait, a gluteal lurch.

Option by option

  • A. Circumduction gait

    This is a swing of the leg in a semicircle in spastic limbs.

  • B. Steppage gait

    This is a high-stepping gait to clear a drooping foot.

  • C. Antalgic gait

    This is a short stance on a painful limb and not a lean to correct pelvic drop.

  • D. Compensated Trendelenburg gait (correct)

    Correct. Trunk lean toward the weak side keeps the pelvis level.

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, Compensated Trendelenburg gait. In weakness of gluteus medius and minimus, the trunk is shifted towards the weak side during stance to bring the centre of gravity over the hip and reduce the pelvic drop.

Why is "Circumduction gait" not the answer?

This is a swing of the leg in a semicircle in spastic limbs.

Why is "Steppage gait" not the answer?

This is a high-stepping gait to clear a drooping foot.

Why is "Antalgic gait" not the answer?

This is a short stance on a painful limb and not a lean to correct pelvic drop.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: gluteus medius lurch in Anatomy. This is a compensated Trendelenburg gait, a gluteal lurch.

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 Lower limb: gluteus medius lurch?

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.