Head and neck: parotid secretomotor pathway: 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: parotid secretomotor pathway

Sample item

A tumour of the middle ear damages the nerve that carries the preganglionic secretomotor fibres for the parotid gland. Which sequence correctly traces these fibres to the gland?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Tympanic branch of IX, lesser petrosal nerve, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve

Preganglionic fibres from the inferior salivatory nucleus travel in the glossopharyngeal nerve to its tympanic branch and the tympanic plexus, then in the lesser petrosal nerve to the otic ganglion below the foramen ovale. Postganglionic fibres reach the parotid via the auriculotemporal nerve.

Option by option

  • A. Vagus nerve, auricular branch, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve

    The vagus does not carry parotid secretomotor fibres, so the pathway is wrong.

  • B. Tympanic branch of IX, lesser petrosal nerve, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve (correct)

    Correct. This is the glossopharyngeal secretomotor pathway to the parotid gland.

  • C. Chorda tympani, lingual nerve, submandibular ganglion, glandular branches

    This is the path to the submandibular and sublingual glands.

  • D. Greater petrosal nerve, nerve of pterygoid canal, pterygopalatine ganglion, zygomatic nerve

    This is the path to the lacrimal gland and nasal mucosa.

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 B, Tympanic branch of IX, lesser petrosal nerve, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve. Preganglionic fibres from the inferior salivatory nucleus travel in the glossopharyngeal nerve to its tympanic branch and the tympanic plexus, then in the lesser petrosal nerve to the otic ganglion below the foramen ovale.

Why is "Vagus nerve, auricular branch, otic ganglion, auriculotemporal nerve" not the answer?

The vagus does not carry parotid secretomotor fibres, so the pathway is wrong.

Why is "Chorda tympani, lingual nerve, submandibular ganglion, glandular bran…" not the answer?

This is the path to the submandibular and sublingual glands.

Why is "Greater petrosal nerve, nerve of pterygoid canal, pterygopalatine gan…" not the answer?

This is the path to the lacrimal gland and nasal mucosa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: parotid secretomotor pathway in Anatomy. Postganglionic fibres reach the parotid via the auriculotemporal nerve.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: parotid secretomotor pathway?

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.