Head and neck: nasopalatine nerve: 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: nasopalatine nerve

Sample item

A dentist plans extraction of the upper central incisors. To anaesthetise the palatal mucosa behind them, the needle is placed in the incisive papilla. Which nerve is blocked?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Nasopalatine nerve

The nasopalatine nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve, runs down the nasal septum and passes through the incisive canal and supplies the anterior part of the hard palate behind the incisor teeth. The greater palatine nerve supplies the rest of the hard palate.

Option by option

  • A. Nasopalatine nerve (correct)

    Correct. The nasopalatine nerve emerges at the incisive foramen to supply the anterior palate.

  • B. Anterior superior alveolar nerve

    The anterior superior alveolar nerve supplies the incisors and canine teeth themselves and not the palate mucosa.

  • C. Greater palatine nerve

    The greater palatine nerve supplies the posterior hard palate and its palatal gingiva.

  • D. Lesser palatine nerve

    The lesser palatine nerve supplies the soft palate and 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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Nasopalatine nerve. The nasopalatine nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve, runs down the nasal septum and passes through the incisive canal and supplies the anterior part of the hard palate behind the incisor teeth.

Why is "Anterior superior alveolar nerve" not the answer?

The anterior superior alveolar nerve supplies the incisors and canine teeth themselves and not the palate mucosa.

Why is "Greater palatine nerve" not the answer?

The greater palatine nerve supplies the posterior hard palate and its palatal gingiva.

Why is "Lesser palatine nerve" not the answer?

The lesser palatine nerve supplies the soft palate and tonsil.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: nasopalatine nerve in Anatomy. The greater palatine nerve supplies the rest of the hard palate.

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: nasopalatine nerve?

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.