Nose: Woodruff's plexus: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Nose: Woodruff's plexus

Sample item

A hypertensive elderly man has profuse posterior epistaxis. The bleeding point is located at the posterior end of the inferior meatus. Which plexus is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Woodruff's plexus

Woodruff's plexus is a venous-arterial anastomosis behind the posterior end of the inferior turbinate, formed by branches of the sphenopalatine and ascending pharyngeal arteries. It is a common source of posterior epistaxis in the elderly.

Option by option

  • A. Plexus of Batson

    Batson's plexus is a vertebral venous plexus.

  • B. Woodruff's plexus (correct)

    Correct. Woodruff's plexus lies in the posterior inferior meatus.

  • C. Kiesselbach's plexus

    Kiesselbach's plexus is anterior on the septum.

  • D. Pterygoid plexus

    The pterygoid plexus lies in the infratemporal fossa.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is B, Woodruff's plexus. Woodruff's plexus is a venous-arterial anastomosis behind the posterior end of the inferior turbinate, formed by branches of the sphenopalatine and ascending pharyngeal arteries.

Why is "Plexus of Batson" not the answer?

Batson's plexus is a vertebral venous plexus.

Why is "Kiesselbach's plexus" not the answer?

Kiesselbach's plexus is anterior on the septum.

Why is "Pterygoid plexus" not the answer?

The pterygoid plexus lies in the infratemporal fossa.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Nose: Woodruff's plexus in ENT. It is a common source of posterior epistaxis in the elderly.

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 Nose: Woodruff's plexus?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.