Embryology: 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.

Try it

Anatomy · Embryology

Sample item

A newborn has a small receding jaw, downslanting palpebral fissures, malar hypoplasia and conductive hearing loss. Which embryological structure failed to develop normally?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. First pharyngeal arch neural crest

Treacher Collins syndrome (mandibulofacial dysostosis) results from TCOF1 mutation causing deficient neural crest migration to the first arch, leading to mandibular and malar hypoplasia.

Option by option

  • A. First pharyngeal arch neural crest (correct)

    Correct. First arch neural crest forms the mandible and the maxilla and zygomatic area.

  • B. Fourth pharyngeal arch

    The fourth arch forms the laryngeal and aortic arch structures.

  • C. Third pharyngeal pouch

    The third pouch forms the inferior parathyroid and thymus.

  • D. Second pharyngeal arch cartilage

    Second arch cartilage forms the stapes and hyoid, not the jaw.

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 A, First pharyngeal arch neural crest. Treacher Collins syndrome (mandibulofacial dysostosis) results from TCOF1 mutation causing deficient neural crest migration to the first arch, leading to mandibular and malar hypoplasia.

Why is "Fourth pharyngeal arch" not the answer?

The fourth arch forms the laryngeal and aortic arch structures.

Why is "Third pharyngeal pouch" not the answer?

The third pouch forms the inferior parathyroid and thymus.

Why is "Second pharyngeal arch cartilage" not the answer?

Second arch cartilage forms the stapes and hyoid, not the jaw.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Embryology in Anatomy. The correct option holds because: Correct. First arch neural crest forms the mandible and the maxilla and zygomatic area.

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 Embryology?

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.