Head and neck: eyelid glands: 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: eyelid glands

Sample item

A 30-year-old woman has a firm, painless nodule in the upper eyelid that has persisted for weeks, with the lid margin normal. Obstruction of which glands is responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Tarsal (Meibomian) glands

The tarsal (Meibomian) glands are sebaceous glands embedded in the tarsal plate, opening at the lid margin. Blockage causes a chalazion, a painless lipogranulomatous swelling. Infection of the glands of Zeis or Moll at the lash follicles produces an external hordeolum (stye).

Option by option

  • A. Accessory lacrimal glands of Krause

    The accessory lacrimal glands are situated in the conjunctiva and do not form a tarsal nodule.

  • B. Glands of Zeis

    The glands of Zeis are sebaceous glands of the lash follicles, and their infection causes a stye.

  • C. Tarsal (Meibomian) glands (correct)

    Correct. Blockage of the Meibomian glands in the tarsus produces a chalazion.

  • D. Glands of Moll

    The glands of Moll are modified sweat glands at the lid margin, linked to external hordeolum.

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 C, Tarsal (Meibomian) glands. The tarsal (Meibomian) glands are sebaceous glands embedded in the tarsal plate, opening at the lid margin.

Why is "Accessory lacrimal glands of Krause" not the answer?

The accessory lacrimal glands are situated in the conjunctiva and do not form a tarsal nodule.

Why is "Glands of Zeis" not the answer?

The glands of Zeis are sebaceous glands of the lash follicles, and their infection causes a stye.

Why is "Glands of Moll" not the answer?

The glands of Moll are modified sweat glands at the lid margin, linked to external hordeolum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: eyelid glands in Anatomy. Blockage causes a chalazion, a painless lipogranulomatous swelling. Infection of the glands of Zeis or Moll at the lash follicles produces an external hordeolum (stye).

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: eyelid glands?

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.