Airway assessment: Cormack-Lehane: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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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Anaesthesia · Airway assessment: Cormack-Lehane

Sample item

At laryngoscopy only the epiglottis is visible and no part of the glottis can be seen. Which Cormack-Lehane grade is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Grade III

Grade III shows the epiglottis only. Grade I shows most of the glottis, grade II shows the posterior part, and grade IV shows no glottic structures or even the epiglottis, only the soft palate.

Option by option

  • A. Grade I

    Grade I shows the full glottic aperture.

  • B. Grade III (correct)

    Correct. Epiglottis only is grade III.

  • C. Grade IV

    Grade IV shows only the soft palate.

  • D. Grade II

    Grade II shows only the posterior commissure or arytenoids.

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.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Grade III. Grade III shows the epiglottis only.

Why is "Grade I" not the answer?

Grade I shows the full glottic aperture.

Why is "Grade IV" not the answer?

Grade IV shows only the soft palate.

Why is "Grade II" not the answer?

Grade II shows only the posterior commissure or arytenoids.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway assessment: Cormack-Lehane in Anaesthesia. Grade I shows most of the glottis, grade II shows the posterior part, and grade IV shows no glottic structures or even the epiglottis, only the soft palate.

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 Airway assessment: Cormack-Lehane?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.