Thorax: lymphatic drainage of the oesophagus: 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.

Try it

Anatomy · Thorax: lymphatic drainage of the oesophagus

Sample item

Staging of an adenocarcinoma in the lower third of the thoracic oesophagus is most likely to show first-station nodal spread to which group?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Left gastric and coeliac nodes

Lymph from the lower third of the oesophagus drains mainly downward to the left gastric (paracardial) and coeliac nodes. The upper third drains to deep cervical nodes and the middle third to mediastinal nodes, although the submucosal plexus allows longitudinal spread in both directions.

Option by option

  • A. Subcarinal nodes

    These nodes mainly receive lymph from the middle oesophagus and the bronchi.

  • B. Paratracheal nodes

    These nodes mainly receive lymph from the upper and middle oesophagus and the trachea.

  • C. Deep cervical nodes

    These nodes receive lymph from the upper oesophagus.

  • D. Left gastric and coeliac nodes (correct)

    Correct. The lower third drains along the left gastric vessels towards the coeliac nodes.

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 D, Left gastric and coeliac nodes. Lymph from the lower third of the oesophagus drains mainly downward to the left gastric (paracardial) and coeliac nodes.

Why is "Subcarinal nodes" not the answer?

These nodes mainly receive lymph from the middle oesophagus and the bronchi.

Why is "Paratracheal nodes" not the answer?

These nodes mainly receive lymph from the upper and middle oesophagus and the trachea.

Why is "Deep cervical nodes" not the answer?

These nodes receive lymph from the upper oesophagus.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: lymphatic drainage of the oesophagus in Anatomy. The upper third drains to deep cervical nodes and the middle third to mediastinal nodes, although the submucosal plexus allows longitudinal spread in both directions.

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: lymphatic drainage of the oesophagus?

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.