Abdomen and pelvis: Meckel diverticulum: 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 · Abdomen and pelvis: Meckel diverticulum

Sample item

A 2-year-old child passes large painless maroon stools. A technetium pertechnetate scan shows uptake in the right lower abdomen. The lesion is a remnant of which embryonic structure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Vitellointestinal duct

A Meckel diverticulum is the persistent proximal part of the vitellointestinal (omphalomesenteric) duct, arising from the antimesenteric border of the ileum. Ectopic gastric mucosa within it secretes acid and causes ulceration and bleeding, and takes up pertechnetate on scanning.

Option by option

  • A. Ventral pancreatic bud

    The ventral pancreatic bud forms part of the pancreatic head and uncinate process, and not an ileal diverticulum.

  • B. Cloacal membrane

    The cloacal membrane is the thin plate separating the cloaca from the exterior.

  • C. Urachus

    The urachus connects the bladder to the umbilicus and does not involve the ileum.

  • D. Vitellointestinal duct (correct)

    Correct. It is the persistent proximal portion of the vitellointestinal duct.

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, Vitellointestinal duct. A Meckel diverticulum is the persistent proximal part of the vitellointestinal (omphalomesenteric) duct, arising from the antimesenteric border of the ileum.

Why is "Ventral pancreatic bud" not the answer?

The ventral pancreatic bud forms part of the pancreatic head and uncinate process, and not an ileal diverticulum.

Why is "Cloacal membrane" not the answer?

The cloacal membrane is the thin plate separating the cloaca from the exterior.

Why is "Urachus" not the answer?

The urachus connects the bladder to the umbilicus and does not involve the ileum.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: Meckel diverticulum in Anatomy. Ectopic gastric mucosa within it secretes acid and causes ulceration and bleeding, and takes up pertechnetate on scanning.

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 Abdomen and pelvis: Meckel diverticulum?

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.