Thorax: aortic sinuses: 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 · Thorax: aortic sinuses

Sample item

During coronary angiography the operator engages the coronary ostia just above the aortic valve. Which of the aortic sinuses does not give origin to a coronary artery?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Non-coronary aortic sinus

The aortic root has three sinuses (of Valsalva) lying behind the three semilunar cusps. The right coronary artery arises from the right sinus, the left coronary artery from the left sinus, and the third sinus is called the non-coronary sinus because no coronary artery arises there.

Option by option

  • A. Right coronary aortic sinus

    The right coronary aortic sinus gives origin to the right coronary artery.

  • B. Left coronary aortic sinus

    The left coronary aortic sinus gives origin to the left coronary artery.

  • C. Coronary sinus of the right atrium

    The coronary sinus is a venous channel of the atrioventricular groove, not an aortic sinus.

  • D. Non-coronary aortic sinus (correct)

    Correct. The non-coronary sinus has no coronary ostium.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is D, Non-coronary aortic sinus. The aortic root has three sinuses (of Valsalva) lying behind the three semilunar cusps.

Why is "Right coronary aortic sinus" not the answer?

The right coronary aortic sinus gives origin to the right coronary artery.

Why is "Left coronary aortic sinus" not the answer?

The left coronary aortic sinus gives origin to the left coronary artery.

Why is "Coronary sinus of the right atrium" not the answer?

The coronary sinus is a venous channel of the atrioventricular groove, not an aortic sinus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: aortic sinuses in Anatomy. The right coronary artery arises from the right sinus, the left coronary artery from the left sinus, and the third sinus is called the non-coronary sinus because no coronary artery arises there.

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 Thorax: aortic sinuses?

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.