Neuroanatomy: frontal eye field: 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: frontal eye field

Sample item

A patient with an acute infarct of the left middle frontal gyrus has both eyes deviated to the left and cannot voluntarily look to the right. Which cortical area is destroyed?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Frontal eye field (area 8)

The frontal eye field in the posterior middle frontal gyrus drives contralateral conjugate gaze through the pontine paramedian reticular formation. When it is destroyed, the opposite frontal eye field is unopposed and the eyes deviate towards the side of the lesion.

Option by option

  • A. Primary auditory cortex (area 41)

    The primary auditory cortex lies in the temporal lobe and has no role in eye movement.

  • B. Primary visual cortex (area 17)

    The primary visual cortex lesion causes a field defect and does not deviate the eyes.

  • C. Frontal eye field (area 8) (correct)

    Correct. Loss of the left frontal eye field removes rightward gaze, leaving the eyes deviated to the lesion side.

  • D. Primary motor cortex (area 4)

    The primary motor cortex controls limb and face movement, not conjugate gaze.

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, Frontal eye field (area 8). The frontal eye field in the posterior middle frontal gyrus drives contralateral conjugate gaze through the pontine paramedian reticular formation.

Why is "Primary auditory cortex (area 41)" not the answer?

The primary auditory cortex lies in the temporal lobe and has no role in eye movement.

Why is "Primary visual cortex (area 17)" not the answer?

The primary visual cortex lesion causes a field defect and does not deviate the eyes.

Why is "Primary motor cortex (area 4)" not the answer?

The primary motor cortex controls limb and face movement, not conjugate gaze.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy: frontal eye field in Anatomy. When it is destroyed, the opposite frontal eye field is unopposed and the eyes deviate towards the side of the lesion.

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 Neuroanatomy: frontal eye field?

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.