Thorax: middle cardiac vein: 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: middle cardiac vein

Sample item

In a right-dominant heart, a cardiac vein runs in the posterior interventricular groove beside the posterior descending artery and ends in the right part of the coronary sinus. Which vein is this?

ASmall cardiac veinBOblique vein of the left atriumCGreat cardiac veinDMiddle cardiac vein

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Middle cardiac vein

The middle cardiac vein accompanies the posterior descending artery in the posterior interventricular groove and enters the coronary sinus near its termination. The great cardiac vein starts anteriorly beside the left anterior descending artery. The small cardiac vein runs in the right coronary groove with the right marginal artery.

Option by option

A. Small cardiac vein
This vein lies in the right atrioventricular groove with the right marginal artery, not in the interventricular groove.
B. Oblique vein of the left atrium
This is a tiny vein on the back of the left atrium, unrelated to the interventricular groove.
C. Great cardiac vein
This vein begins at the apex and ascends in the anterior interventricular groove with the anterior descending artery.
D. Middle cardiac vein (correct)
Correct. It lies with the posterior descending artery in the posterior interventricular groove.

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 D, Middle cardiac vein. The middle cardiac vein accompanies the posterior descending artery in the posterior interventricular groove and enters the coronary sinus near its termination.

Why is "Small cardiac vein" not the answer?

This vein lies in the right atrioventricular groove with the right marginal artery, not in the interventricular groove.

Why is "Oblique vein of the left atrium" not the answer?

This is a tiny vein on the back of the left atrium, unrelated to the interventricular groove.

Why is "Great cardiac vein" not the answer?

This vein begins at the apex and ascends in the anterior interventricular groove with the anterior descending artery.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: middle cardiac vein in Anatomy. The great cardiac vein starts anteriorly beside the left anterior descending artery. The small cardiac vein runs in the right coronary groove with the right marginal artery.

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: middle cardiac vein?

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.