Thorax: practice question

A Anatomy 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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Anatomy · Thorax

Sample item

A middle-aged man with heartburn has an endoscopy showing the gastro-oesophageal junction above the diaphragm and a barium swallow showing it moving up and down with respiration. Which hernia is this?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Sliding hiatus hernia

In a sliding hiatus hernia, the cardia slides up through the oesophageal hiatus, which is the commonest type. It is associated with reflux. In a rolling hernia the fundus herniates beside the junction, which remains in place.

Option by option

  • A. Morgagni hernia

    Morgagni hernias pass through the retrosternal gap and not the oesophageal opening.

  • B. Bochdalek hernia

    Bochdalek hernias are congenital posterolateral defects.

  • C. Sliding hiatus hernia (correct)

    Correct. The gastro-oesophageal junction itself slides above the diaphragm, producing reflux.

  • D. Rolling paraoesophageal hernia

    In a paraoesophageal hernia the junction stays below the diaphragm and the fundus passes beside it.

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 Anatomy questions

Questions about this Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is C, Sliding hiatus hernia. In a sliding hiatus hernia, the cardia slides up through the oesophageal hiatus, which is the commonest type.

Why is "Morgagni hernia" not the answer?

Morgagni hernias pass through the retrosternal gap and not the oesophageal opening.

Why is "Bochdalek hernia" not the answer?

Bochdalek hernias are congenital posterolateral defects.

Why is "Rolling paraoesophageal hernia" not the answer?

In a paraoesophageal hernia the junction stays below the diaphragm and the fundus passes beside it.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax in Anatomy. It is associated with reflux. In a rolling hernia the fundus herniates beside the junction, which remains in place.

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 Thorax?

Learn every nerve by its route, its muscles and what a lesion looks like at the bedside. That one habit answers a large share of questions. Then use the flashcards and the other Anatomy 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.