Head and neck: pharyngeal tonsil: 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 · Head and neck: pharyngeal tonsil

Sample item

A 5-year-old child snores, breathes through the mouth and has recurrent otitis media with effusion. The enlarged lymphoid tissue blocking the nasopharynx is the pharyngeal tonsil. Where does it lie?

AMucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynxBLateral pharyngeal recess behind the torus tubariusCTonsillar fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal archesDPosterior third (base) of the tongue

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx

The pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) is a mass of lymphoid tissue in the mucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx. Hypertrophy obstructs nasal breathing and can block the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube, leading to middle ear effusion.

Option by option

A. Mucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx (correct)
Correct. The adenoid lies in the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx.
B. Lateral pharyngeal recess behind the torus tubarius
The pharyngeal recess (Rosenmuller fossa) lies behind the torus, but it is not the usual site of the adenoid mass itself.
C. Tonsillar fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches
This is the site of the palatine tonsil in the oropharynx.
D. Posterior third (base) of the tongue
This is the site of the lingual tonsil.

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 A, Mucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx. The pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) is a mass of lymphoid tissue in the mucosa of the roof and posterior wall of the nasopharynx.

Why is "Lateral pharyngeal recess behind the torus tubarius" not the answer?

The pharyngeal recess (Rosenmuller fossa) lies behind the torus, but it is not the usual site of the adenoid mass itself.

Why is "Tonsillar fossa between the palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches" not the answer?

This is the site of the palatine tonsil in the oropharynx.

Why is "Posterior third (base) of the tongue" not the answer?

This is the site of the lingual tonsil.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: pharyngeal tonsil in Anatomy. Hypertrophy obstructs nasal breathing and can block the pharyngeal opening of the auditory tube, leading to middle ear effusion.

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 Head and neck: pharyngeal tonsil?

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.