Embryology: chordoma: 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 · Embryology: chordoma

Sample item

A 40-year-old has a destructive midline lesion of the clivus, and biopsy shows physaliferous cells. The tumour arises from remnants of which embryonic structure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Notochord

Chordomas arise from notochordal remnants and occur mainly at the clivus and sacrococcygeal region. Rathke pouch remnants give craniopharyngioma, and primitive streak remnants give sacrococcygeal teratoma.

Option by option

  • A. Rathke pouch

    Rathke pouch remnants cause craniopharyngioma in the suprasellar region.

  • B. Primitive streak

    Primitive streak remnants give sacrococcygeal teratoma.

  • C. Notochord (correct)

    Correct. Chordoma derives from notochordal remnants along the axial skeleton.

  • D. Neural crest

    Neural crest gives melanoma, neuroblastoma and ganglion tumours.

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 C, Notochord. Chordomas arise from notochordal remnants and occur mainly at the clivus and sacrococcygeal region.

Why is "Rathke pouch" not the answer?

Rathke pouch remnants cause craniopharyngioma in the suprasellar region.

Why is "Primitive streak" not the answer?

Primitive streak remnants give sacrococcygeal teratoma.

Why is "Neural crest" not the answer?

Neural crest gives melanoma, neuroblastoma and ganglion tumours.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology: chordoma in Anatomy. Rathke pouch remnants give craniopharyngioma, and primitive streak remnants give sacrococcygeal teratoma.

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 Embryology: chordoma?

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.