Growth: bone age: practice question

A Pediatrics 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

Pediatrics · Growth: bone age

Sample item

Which pair of ossification centres is present at birth in a mature term newborn and is used as a radiological sign of term maturity?

ALower end of femur and upper end of tibiaBCapitate and hamateCLower end of radius and head of humerusDLateral cuneiform and navicular

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Lower end of femur and upper end of tibia

The distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyses ossify around 36 to 38 weeks and are visible at birth in term babies. Carpal bones begin ossifying after birth, with the capitate and hamate first at about 2 to 3 months. Their presence on a knee X-ray helps confirm maturity.

Option by option

A. Lower end of femur and upper end of tibia (correct)
Correct. Distal femur and proximal tibia are present at birth.
B. Capitate and hamate
Capitate and hamate appear at about 2 to 3 months after birth.
C. Lower end of radius and head of humerus
The distal radius appears at about 1 year and the humeral head at about 6 months.
D. Lateral cuneiform and navicular
The navicular appears at about 3 years.

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.

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, Lower end of femur and upper end of tibia. The distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyses ossify around 36 to 38 weeks and are visible at birth in term babies.

Why is "Capitate and hamate" not the answer?

Capitate and hamate appear at about 2 to 3 months after birth.

Why is "Lower end of radius and head of humerus" not the answer?

The distal radius appears at about 1 year and the humeral head at about 6 months.

Why is "Lateral cuneiform and navicular" not the answer?

The navicular appears at about 3 years.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth: bone age in Pediatrics. Carpal bones begin ossifying after birth, with the capitate and hamate first at about 2 to 3 months. Their presence on a knee X-ray helps confirm maturity.

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 Growth: bone age?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics 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.