Cell injury and adaptation: Zenker degeneration: practice question

A Pathology 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

Pathology · Cell injury and adaptation: Zenker degeneration

Sample item

In a patient with severe typhoid fever, the rectus abdominis shows waxy, glassy, hyalinised muscle fibres with loss of striations. What is this change called?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Zenker hyaline degeneration

Zenker degeneration is a hyaline, waxy change of skeletal muscle in severe infections such as typhoid, with loss of cross striations and coagulative-type necrosis of fibres. Muscle can regenerate afterwards.

Option by option

  • A. Fibrinoid necrosis

    Fibrinoid necrosis affects vessel walls with deposition of immune complexes and fibrin.

  • B. Zenker hyaline degeneration (correct)

    Correct. Waxy, glassy muscle fibres in typhoid are Zenker degeneration.

  • C. Liquefactive necrosis

    Liquefactive necrosis is enzymatic digestion forming a fluid mass.

  • D. Dystrophic calcification

    Dystrophic calcification is deposition of calcium in dead tissue and is not this appearance.

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 Pathology questions

Questions about this Pathology question

What is the answer to this Pathology question?

The best answer is B, Zenker hyaline degeneration. Zenker degeneration is a hyaline, waxy change of skeletal muscle in severe infections such as typhoid, with loss of cross striations and coagulative-type necrosis of fibres.

Why is "Fibrinoid necrosis" not the answer?

Fibrinoid necrosis affects vessel walls with deposition of immune complexes and fibrin.

Why is "Liquefactive necrosis" not the answer?

Liquefactive necrosis is enzymatic digestion forming a fluid mass.

Why is "Dystrophic calcification" not the answer?

Dystrophic calcification is deposition of calcium in dead tissue and is not this appearance.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Cell injury and adaptation: Zenker degeneration in Pathology. Muscle can regenerate afterwards.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Cell injury and adaptation: Zenker degeneration?

Learn each disease as a bundle: cause, key histology, markers, and the clinical hallmark. Then use the flashcards and the other Pathology 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.