Head and neck: pretracheal fascia: 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: pretracheal fascia

Sample item

A thyroid swelling moves upward when the patient swallows. Which fascial layer, which also attaches to the larynx and trachea, explains this movement?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pretracheal fascia

The thyroid gland is enclosed by the pretracheal fascia, which fuses with the cricoid and thyroid cartilages and with the trachea through the suspensory ligament of Berry. When the larynx rises in swallowing, the gland rises with it. A midline mass attached to the hyoid instead moves with tongue protrusion.

Option by option

  • A. Carotid sheath

    This sheath contains the carotid artery, jugular vein and vagus nerve.

  • B. Pretracheal fascia (correct)

    Correct. It binds the gland to the larynx and trachea, so the gland rises with them.

  • C. Prevertebral fascia

    This fascia covers the vertebral column and its muscles, behind the pharynx.

  • D. Investing layer of deep cervical fascia

    This layer encircles the neck, enclosing sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, and is not specific to the thyroid.

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, Pretracheal fascia. The thyroid gland is enclosed by the pretracheal fascia, which fuses with the cricoid and thyroid cartilages and with the trachea through the suspensory ligament of Berry.

Why is "Carotid sheath" not the answer?

This sheath contains the carotid artery, jugular vein and vagus nerve.

Why is "Prevertebral fascia" not the answer?

This fascia covers the vertebral column and its muscles, behind the pharynx.

Why is "Investing layer of deep cervical fascia" not the answer?

This layer encircles the neck, enclosing sternocleidomastoid and trapezius, and is not specific to the thyroid.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck: pretracheal fascia in Anatomy. When the larynx rises in swallowing, the gland rises with it. A midline mass attached to the hyoid instead moves with tongue protrusion.

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: pretracheal fascia?

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.