Thorax: oblique pericardial sinus: 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: oblique pericardial sinus

Sample item

A surgeon lifts the apex of the heart upward and passes a hand behind it, entering a blind-ended pericardial recess that lies behind the left atrium between the pulmonary veins and the inferior vena cava. Which recess is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Oblique sinus

The oblique pericardial sinus is a cul-de-sac behind the left atrium, bounded by the reflections of serous pericardium around the pulmonary veins and inferior vena cava. It is closed above and open below. The transverse sinus lies behind the great arteries and in front of the superior vena cava.

Option by option

  • A. Oblique sinus (correct)

    Correct. This blind recess lies behind the left atrium within the pericardial cavity.

  • B. Costomediastinal recess

    This is a pleural recess behind the costal cartilages, not a pericardial space.

  • C. Costodiaphragmatic recess

    This is a pleural recess between the diaphragm and chest wall, not a pericardial space.

  • D. Transverse sinus

    The transverse sinus lies between the great arteries in front and the atria behind, and has two open ends.

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.

More Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is A, Oblique sinus. The oblique pericardial sinus is a cul-de-sac behind the left atrium, bounded by the reflections of serous pericardium around the pulmonary veins and inferior vena cava.

Why is "Costomediastinal recess" not the answer?

This is a pleural recess behind the costal cartilages, not a pericardial space.

Why is "Costodiaphragmatic recess" not the answer?

This is a pleural recess between the diaphragm and chest wall, not a pericardial space.

Why is "Transverse sinus" not the answer?

The transverse sinus lies between the great arteries in front and the atria behind, and has two open ends.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: oblique pericardial sinus in Anatomy. It is closed above and open below. The transverse sinus lies behind the great arteries and in front of the superior vena cava.

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 Thorax: oblique pericardial sinus?

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.