Embryology: cerebellar development: 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 · Embryology: cerebellar development

Sample item

Thickened dorsolateral margins of the metencephalic alar plates bend over the fourth ventricle and fuse across the midline to form the cerebellar plate. What are these margins called?

ATectum of the mesencephalonBBasal plates of the ponsCRoof plate of the myelencephalonDRhombic lips

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Rhombic lips

The dorsolateral parts of the alar plates of the metencephalon thicken to form the rhombic lips. They fuse in the midline to form the cerebellar plate, the primordium of the vermis and hemispheres.

Option by option

A. Tectum of the mesencephalon
The tectum of the mesencephalon forms the superior and inferior colliculi.
B. Basal plates of the pons
Basal plates form motor nuclei and do not contribute to the cerebellar cortex.
C. Roof plate of the myelencephalon
The roof plate of the myelencephalon is thin and forms the choroid plexus ependyma of the fourth ventricle.
D. Rhombic lips (correct)
Correct. The rhombic lips of the alar plates give rise to the cerebellum.

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 D, Rhombic lips. The dorsolateral parts of the alar plates of the metencephalon thicken to form the rhombic lips.

Why is "Tectum of the mesencephalon" not the answer?

The tectum of the mesencephalon forms the superior and inferior colliculi.

Why is "Basal plates of the pons" not the answer?

Basal plates form motor nuclei and do not contribute to the cerebellar cortex.

Why is "Roof plate of the myelencephalon" not the answer?

The roof plate of the myelencephalon is thin and forms the choroid plexus ependyma of the fourth ventricle.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: cerebellar development in Anatomy. They fuse in the midline to form the cerebellar plate, the primordium of the vermis and hemispheres.

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 Embryology: cerebellar development?

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.