Neuroanatomy: lateral pontine syndrome: 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 · Neuroanatomy: lateral pontine syndrome

Sample item

A 64-year-old man has sudden vertigo, vomiting, right-sided deafness and tinnitus, right lower motor neuron facial palsy, right facial numbness, a right Horner syndrome and loss of pain and temperature on the left half of the body. Which artery is occluded?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Anterior inferior cerebellar artery

The anterior inferior cerebellar artery supplies the lateral caudal pons, including the facial and cochlear nuclei, the vestibular nuclei, the spinal trigeminal tract and the spinothalamic tract. Its occlusion adds ipsilateral facial palsy and deafness to the lateral brainstem picture.

Option by option

  • A. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

    Posterior inferior cerebellar artery occlusion affects the lateral medulla and spares the facial nerve and hearing.

  • B. Superior cerebellar artery

    Superior cerebellar artery occlusion causes ipsilateral limb ataxia with contralateral sensory loss, without facial palsy or deafness.

  • C. Anterior inferior cerebellar artery (correct)

    Correct. Facial palsy and deafness with crossed sensory loss place the lesion in the territory of this artery.

  • D. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery

    Paramedian basilar branches infarct the medial pons and produce motor weakness rather than this lateral picture.

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, Anterior inferior cerebellar artery. The anterior inferior cerebellar artery supplies the lateral caudal pons, including the facial and cochlear nuclei, the vestibular nuclei, the spinal trigeminal tract and the spinothalamic tract.

Why is "Posterior inferior cerebellar artery" not the answer?

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery occlusion affects the lateral medulla and spares the facial nerve and hearing.

Why is "Superior cerebellar artery" not the answer?

Superior cerebellar artery occlusion causes ipsilateral limb ataxia with contralateral sensory loss, without facial palsy or deafness.

Why is "Paramedian branches of the basilar artery" not the answer?

Paramedian basilar branches infarct the medial pons and produce motor weakness rather than this lateral picture.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: lateral pontine syndrome in Anatomy. Its occlusion adds ipsilateral facial palsy and deafness to the lateral brainstem picture.

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 Neuroanatomy: lateral pontine syndrome?

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.