Neuroanatomy: 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 · Neuroanatomy

Sample item

A man has right-sided face and arm weakness with loss of speech, though comprehension is preserved. Which artery is most likely occluded?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Left middle cerebral artery

The middle cerebral artery supplies the lateral surface of the hemisphere, including the face and arm motor areas and Broca area in the dominant hemisphere. Right-sided signs with aphasia indicate a left-sided lesion.

Option by option

  • A. Left posterior cerebral artery

    PCA occlusion causes visual field loss.

  • B. Right middle cerebral artery

    Right MCA occlusion causes left face and arm weakness with neglect.

  • C. Left anterior cerebral artery

    ACA occlusion causes leg weakness more than arm.

  • D. Left middle cerebral artery (correct)

    Correct. Left MCA occlusion causes right face and arm weakness with expressive aphasia.

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 D, Left middle cerebral artery. The middle cerebral artery supplies the lateral surface of the hemisphere, including the face and arm motor areas and Broca area in the dominant hemisphere.

Why is "Left posterior cerebral artery" not the answer?

PCA occlusion causes visual field loss.

Why is "Right middle cerebral artery" not the answer?

Right MCA occlusion causes left face and arm weakness with neglect.

Why is "Left anterior cerebral artery" not the answer?

ACA occlusion causes leg weakness more than arm.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neuroanatomy in Anatomy. Right-sided signs with aphasia indicate a left-sided lesion.

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 Neuroanatomy?

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.