Blood and immunity: spleen function: practice question

A Physiology 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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Physiology · Blood and immunity: spleen function

Sample item

A 30-year-old man has his spleen removed after a road accident. Weeks later a blood smear shows small round dense basophilic inclusions in some red cells. What do these inclusions represent?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Nuclear remnants that the spleen normally removes

Splenic macrophages normally pit nuclear remnants from red cells without destroying them. After splenectomy or in functional asplenia these remnants persist as Howell-Jolly bodies. They are a marker of absent splenic function.

Option by option

  • A. Intracellular malarial ring forms

    Malarial rings are intracellular parasites with a ring and chromatin dot, not dense round dots in post-splenectomy blood.

  • B. Precipitated denatured haemoglobin

    Denatured haemoglobin forms Heinz bodies, which need supravital staining and are not small basophilic dots.

  • C. Aggregates of ribosomal RNA

    Ribosomal RNA aggregates form basophilic stippling, seen in lead poisoning, and are not round dense single inclusions.

  • D. Nuclear remnants that the spleen normally removes (correct)

    Correct. These are Howell-Jolly bodies, nuclear fragments normally pitted out by the spleen.

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.

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Questions about this Physiology question

What is the answer to this Physiology question?

The best answer is D, Nuclear remnants that the spleen normally removes. Splenic macrophages normally pit nuclear remnants from red cells without destroying them.

Why is "Intracellular malarial ring forms" not the answer?

Malarial rings are intracellular parasites with a ring and chromatin dot, not dense round dots in post-splenectomy blood.

Why is "Precipitated denatured haemoglobin" not the answer?

Denatured haemoglobin forms Heinz bodies, which need supravital staining and are not small basophilic dots.

Why is "Aggregates of ribosomal RNA" not the answer?

Ribosomal RNA aggregates form basophilic stippling, seen in lead poisoning, and are not round dense single inclusions.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Blood and immunity: spleen function in Physiology. After splenectomy or in functional asplenia these remnants persist as Howell-Jolly bodies. They are a marker of absent splenic function.

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 Blood and immunity: spleen function?

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology 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.