Neuroanatomy: anterior choroidal artery: 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: anterior choroidal artery

Sample item

A 66-year-old man has sudden left hemiparesis, left hemisensory loss and a left homonymous hemianopia. MRI shows an infarct of the posterior limb of the right internal capsule extending to the optic tract and lateral geniculate body. Which artery is occluded?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Anterior choroidal artery

The anterior choroidal artery arises from the internal carotid artery and supplies the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate body and part of the choroid plexus. Occlusion therefore combines hemiparesis, hemisensory loss and hemianopia.

Option by option

  • A. Anterior choroidal artery (correct)

    Correct. Its territory includes the posterior limb of the capsule and the optic pathway, matching all three deficits.

  • B. Posterior communicating artery

    The posterior communicating artery gives thalamoperforating branches to the thalamus and hypothalamus, not the optic tract.

  • C. Lenticulostriate arteries

    Lenticulostriate branches can infarct the capsule but spare the optic tract, so they cause no hemianopia.

  • D. Recurrent artery of Heubner

    The recurrent artery of Heubner supplies the anterior limb of the capsule and the head of the caudate, not the optic tract.

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 A, Anterior choroidal artery. The anterior choroidal artery arises from the internal carotid artery and supplies the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the optic tract, the lateral geniculate body and part of the choroid plexus.

Why is "Posterior communicating artery" not the answer?

The posterior communicating artery gives thalamoperforating branches to the thalamus and hypothalamus, not the optic tract.

Why is "Lenticulostriate arteries" not the answer?

Lenticulostriate branches can infarct the capsule but spare the optic tract, so they cause no hemianopia.

Why is "Recurrent artery of Heubner" not the answer?

The recurrent artery of Heubner supplies the anterior limb of the capsule and the head of the caudate, not the optic tract.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: anterior choroidal artery in Anatomy. Occlusion therefore combines hemiparesis, hemisensory loss and hemianopia.

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: anterior choroidal artery?

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.