General anatomy and histology: 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 · General anatomy and histology

Sample item

A child with dense, fracture-prone bones and cranial nerve compression has osteoclasts that cannot acidify the resorption lacuna. Osteoclasts normally arise from which precursor?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Monocyte-macrophage lineage

Osteoclasts are multinucleate cells formed by fusion of monocyte-macrophage precursors under RANKL and M-CSF. Osteoblasts and chondroblasts arise from mesenchymal stem cells.

Option by option

  • A. Chondroblasts

    Chondroblasts make cartilage matrix and are of mesenchymal origin.

  • B. Monocyte-macrophage lineage (correct)

    Correct. Osteoclasts derive from monocyte-macrophage precursors.

  • C. Mesenchymal stem cells

    Mesenchymal stem cells give rise to osteoblasts, chondroblasts and adipocytes.

  • D. Osteoblast progenitors

    Osteoblast progenitors form bone and signal osteoclasts but are not their ancestors.

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 B, Monocyte-macrophage lineage. Osteoclasts are multinucleate cells formed by fusion of monocyte-macrophage precursors under RANKL and M-CSF.

Why is "Chondroblasts" not the answer?

Chondroblasts make cartilage matrix and are of mesenchymal origin.

Why is "Mesenchymal stem cells" not the answer?

Mesenchymal stem cells give rise to osteoblasts, chondroblasts and adipocytes.

Why is "Osteoblast progenitors" not the answer?

Osteoblast progenitors form bone and signal osteoclasts but are not their ancestors.

What concept does this question test?

It tests General anatomy and histology in Anatomy. Osteoblasts and chondroblasts arise from mesenchymal stem cells.

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 General anatomy and histology?

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.