Thorax: aberrant right subclavian 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 · Thorax: aberrant right subclavian artery

Sample item

A 45-year-old woman has long-standing difficulty swallowing solids. A barium swallow shows an oblique indentation of the posterior oesophageal wall at about T3-T4, running upward from left to right. Which vascular anomaly best explains this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Aberrant right subclavian artery

An aberrant right subclavian artery arises as the last branch of the arch and crosses behind the oesophagus to the right, causing dysphagia lusoria. It may be linked with a non-recurrent right laryngeal nerve. A pulmonary artery sling instead passes between the trachea and oesophagus.

Option by option

  • A. Left atrial enlargement

    An enlarged left atrium displaces the oesophagus from the front, not with an oblique posterior defect.

  • B. Pulmonary artery sling

    The sling passes between the trachea and oesophagus, indenting the oesophagus from the front.

  • C. Double aortic arch

    A double arch encircles both trachea and oesophagus, producing indentations on both sides and often presents in infancy.

  • D. Aberrant right subclavian artery (correct)

    Correct. It crosses behind the oesophagus, giving a posterior oblique indentation.

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 D, Aberrant right subclavian artery. An aberrant right subclavian artery arises as the last branch of the arch and crosses behind the oesophagus to the right, causing dysphagia lusoria.

Why is "Left atrial enlargement" not the answer?

An enlarged left atrium displaces the oesophagus from the front, not with an oblique posterior defect.

Why is "Pulmonary artery sling" not the answer?

The sling passes between the trachea and oesophagus, indenting the oesophagus from the front.

Why is "Double aortic arch" not the answer?

A double arch encircles both trachea and oesophagus, producing indentations on both sides and often presents in infancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: aberrant right subclavian artery in Anatomy. It may be linked with a non-recurrent right laryngeal nerve. A pulmonary artery sling instead passes between the trachea and oesophagus.

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 Thorax: aberrant right subclavian 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.