Head and neck: ciliary ganglion: 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 · Head and neck: ciliary ganglion

Sample item

A young woman has a unilaterally dilated pupil that reacts very slowly to near and almost not to light, with absent knee jerks. Damage to which parasympathetic relay in the orbit explains the pupil?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Ciliary ganglion

The ciliary ganglion receives parasympathetic fibres from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus through the oculomotor nerve, and its short ciliary nerves supply the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscle. Postganglionic damage produces a tonic (Adie) pupil, often with absent deep tendon reflexes.

Option by option

  • A. Superior cervical ganglion

    This is a sympathetic ganglion, and its damage would cause a small pupil, not a dilated one.

  • B. Ciliary ganglion (correct)

    Correct. Damage to this ganglion denervates the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscle.

  • C. Otic ganglion

    This ganglion supplies the parotid gland through the glossopharyngeal nerve.

  • D. Pterygopalatine ganglion

    This ganglion supplies lacrimal and nasal glands via the facial nerve.

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 B, Ciliary ganglion. The ciliary ganglion receives parasympathetic fibres from the Edinger-Westphal nucleus through the oculomotor nerve, and its short ciliary nerves supply the sphincter pupillae and ciliary muscle.

Why is "Superior cervical ganglion" not the answer?

This is a sympathetic ganglion, and its damage would cause a small pupil, not a dilated one.

Why is "Otic ganglion" not the answer?

This ganglion supplies the parotid gland through the glossopharyngeal nerve.

Why is "Pterygopalatine ganglion" not the answer?

This ganglion supplies lacrimal and nasal glands via the facial nerve.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: ciliary ganglion in Anatomy. Postganglionic damage produces a tonic (Adie) pupil, often with absent deep tendon reflexes.

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 Head and neck: ciliary ganglion?

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.