Neck: spinal accessory nerve injury: 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.

Try it

ENT · Neck: spinal accessory nerve injury

Sample item

After excision of a lymph node from the posterior triangle, a patient has shoulder drooping, winging of the scapula and difficulty abducting the arm above the horizontal. Which nerve is injured?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Spinal accessory nerve

The superficial spinal accessory nerve runs in the posterior triangle and supplies the trapezius, so biopsies in this area risk injury. Trapezius palsy causes shoulder droop and impaired abduction. Long thoracic nerve injury causes medial winging due to serratus anterior weakness.

Option by option

  • A. Spinal accessory nerve (correct)

    Correct. Trapezius denervation follows spinal accessory nerve injury.

  • B. Long thoracic nerve

    Long thoracic nerve injury causes medial winging without shoulder droop.

  • C. Phrenic nerve

    The phrenic nerve supplies the diaphragm.

  • D. Dorsal scapular nerve

    The dorsal scapular nerve supplies rhomboids and is deeper.

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 ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, Spinal accessory nerve. The superficial spinal accessory nerve runs in the posterior triangle and supplies the trapezius, so biopsies in this area risk injury.

Why is "Long thoracic nerve" not the answer?

Long thoracic nerve injury causes medial winging without shoulder droop.

Why is "Phrenic nerve" not the answer?

The phrenic nerve supplies the diaphragm.

Why is "Dorsal scapular nerve" not the answer?

The dorsal scapular nerve supplies rhomboids and is deeper.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neck: spinal accessory nerve injury in ENT. Trapezius palsy causes shoulder droop and impaired abduction. Long thoracic nerve injury causes medial winging due to serratus anterior weakness.

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 Neck: spinal accessory nerve injury?

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.