Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal cord termination: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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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Anaesthesia · Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal cord termination

Sample item

A neonate needs a lumbar puncture. Compared with an adult, where does the spinal cord end in a neonate?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. At about L3

The cord ends at L3 in the neonate and ascends to L1 to L2 by about 1 year. The dural sac ends at S3 in infants and S2 in adults. Puncture should be at a low interspace such as L4 to L5.

Option by option

  • A. At about L3 (correct)

    Correct. The neonatal cord ends lower, at about L3.

  • B. At about S2

    S2 is where the dural sac ends in adults.

  • C. At about T12

    T12 is higher than the cord ends at any age.

  • D. At about L1

    L1 to L2 is the adult termination.

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 Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is A, At about L3. The cord ends at L3 in the neonate and ascends to L1 to L2 by about 1 year.

Why is "At about S2" not the answer?

S2 is where the dural sac ends in adults.

Why is "At about T12" not the answer?

T12 is higher than the cord ends at any age.

Why is "At about L1" not the answer?

L1 to L2 is the adult termination.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal cord termination in Anaesthesia. The dural sac ends at S3 in infants and S2 in adults. Puncture should be at a low interspace such as L4 to L5.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Local and regional anaesthesia: spinal cord termination?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.