Abdomen and pelvis: surface anatomy of the gallbladder: 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 · Abdomen and pelvis: surface anatomy of the gallbladder

Sample item

A 40-year-old woman with cholecystitis has a catch in inspiration when the examiner presses at the junction of the lateral border of the right rectus abdominis and the right costal margin, at the tip of the ninth costal cartilage. Which structure lies beneath this point?

ANeck of the pancreasBHepatic flexure of the colonCFundus of the gallbladderDPylorus of the stomach

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Fundus of the gallbladder

The fundus of the gallbladder usually projects beyond the inferior border of the liver and touches the anterior abdominal wall at the tip of the ninth right costal cartilage, in the transpyloric plane. Pressure here in an inflamed gallbladder halts inspiration (Murphy sign).

Option by option

A. Neck of the pancreas
The neck of the pancreas lies near the midline, behind the pylorus, not at the costal margin.
B. Hepatic flexure of the colon
The hepatic flexure lies lower and further laterally.
C. Fundus of the gallbladder (correct)
Correct. The gallbladder fundus lies at the ninth costal cartilage tip, the site of Murphy sign.
D. Pylorus of the stomach
The pylorus lies close to the midline on the transpyloric plane rather than at the lateral rectus border.

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.

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Fundus of the gallbladder. The fundus of the gallbladder usually projects beyond the inferior border of the liver and touches the anterior abdominal wall at the tip of the ninth right costal cartilage, in the transpyloric plane.

Why is "Neck of the pancreas" not the answer?

The neck of the pancreas lies near the midline, behind the pylorus, not at the costal margin.

Why is "Hepatic flexure of the colon" not the answer?

The hepatic flexure lies lower and further laterally.

Why is "Pylorus of the stomach" not the answer?

The pylorus lies close to the midline on the transpyloric plane rather than at the lateral rectus border.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: surface anatomy of the gallbladder in Anatomy. Pressure here in an inflamed gallbladder halts inspiration (Murphy sign).

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 Abdomen and pelvis: surface anatomy of the gallbladder?

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.