Urology: varicocele: practice question

A General Surgery 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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General Surgery · Urology: varicocele

Sample item

A 20-year-old has a left scrotal swelling described as a bag of worms that increases on standing and reduces on lying down. Why is it more common on the left?

AThe left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein at a right angleBThe left testis is largerCThe right testicular vein drains into the portal veinDThe left testicular artery is longer

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein at a right angle

The left testicular vein enters the left renal vein at a right angle and is longer, so pressure transmission favours reflux, whereas the right drains directly into the inferior vena cava. A sudden right-sided or non-reducing varicocele suggests a retroperitoneal or renal mass. Repair is for pain, infertility or adolescent testicular hypotrophy.

Option by option

A. The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein at a right angle (correct)
Correct. Venous anatomy explains the left-sided predominance.
B. The left testis is larger
Testicular size is not the reason.
C. The right testicular vein drains into the portal vein
The right testicular vein drains into the IVC.
D. The left testicular artery is longer
Arterial length is not relevant.

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 General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, The left testicular vein drains into the left renal vein at a right angle. The left testicular vein enters the left renal vein at a right angle and is longer, so pressure transmission favours reflux, whereas the right drains directly into the inferior vena cava.

Why is "The left testis is larger" not the answer?

Testicular size is not the reason.

Why is "The right testicular vein drains into the portal vein" not the answer?

The right testicular vein drains into the IVC.

Why is "The left testicular artery is longer" not the answer?

Arterial length is not relevant.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: varicocele in General Surgery. A sudden right-sided or non-reducing varicocele suggests a retroperitoneal or renal mass. Repair is for pain, infertility or adolescent testicular hypotrophy.

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 Urology: varicocele?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery 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.