Lower limb: hip joint capsule: 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 · Lower limb: hip joint capsule

Sample item

At the hip, the capsule attaches in front to the intertrochanteric line, but behind it attaches to the neck about halfway along. What is the consequence?

AThe medial part of the posterior neck lies outside the capsuleBThe whole femoral neck lies inside the capsuleCThe lateral part of the posterior femoral neck lies outside the capsuleDThe greater trochanter lies inside the capsule

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. The lateral part of the posterior femoral neck lies outside the capsule

Anteriorly the capsule encloses the whole neck up to the intertrochanteric line. Posteriorly it attaches medial to the intertrochanteric crest, so the lateral part of the posterior neck is extracapsular. Intertrochanteric fractures are fully extracapsular and have a better blood supply than subcapital ones.

Option by option

A. The medial part of the posterior neck lies outside the capsule
It is the lateral part, not the medial part, of the posterior neck that is extracapsular.
B. The whole femoral neck lies inside the capsule
The neck is completely intracapsular only anteriorly.
C. The lateral part of the posterior femoral neck lies outside the capsule (correct)
Correct. Posteriorly the capsule stops short of the crest, leaving the lateral neck outside it.
D. The greater trochanter lies inside the capsule
The trochanters are outside the capsule.

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 C, The lateral part of the posterior femoral neck lies outside the capsule. Anteriorly the capsule encloses the whole neck up to the intertrochanteric line.

Why is "The medial part of the posterior neck lies outside the capsule" not the answer?

It is the lateral part, not the medial part, of the posterior neck that is extracapsular.

Why is "The whole femoral neck lies inside the capsule" not the answer?

The neck is completely intracapsular only anteriorly.

Why is "The greater trochanter lies inside the capsule" not the answer?

The trochanters are outside the capsule.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: hip joint capsule in Anatomy. Posteriorly it attaches medial to the intertrochanteric crest, so the lateral part of the posterior neck is extracapsular. Intertrochanteric fractures are fully extracapsular and have a better blood supply than subcapital ones.

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 Lower limb: hip joint capsule?

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.