Airway anatomy, equipment, and airway management: curriculum recognition: 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 · Airway anatomy, equipment, and airway management: curriculum recognition

Sample item

After total thyroidectomy a woman can speak but her voice is weak and monotonous and she cannot produce high-pitched notes. Both cords abduct and adduct, though one looks slack. Which muscle is most likely paralysed?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Cricothyroid

The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplies cricothyroid, which tilts the thyroid cartilage forward and tenses the cords for pitch. It runs close to the superior thyroid vessels and can be injured during ligation. The other intrinsic muscles listed are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Option by option

  • A. Lateral cricoarytenoid

    Lateral cricoarytenoid adducts the cords and is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

  • B. Thyroarytenoid

    Thyroarytenoid is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve and relaxes the cords.

  • C. Cricothyroid (correct)

    Correct. Cricothyroid tenses the cords, and its loss causes a monotone voice with preserved cord movement.

  • D. Posterior cricoarytenoid

    Posterior cricoarytenoid is the only abductor, and its loss would impair opening of the cords.

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 C, Cricothyroid. The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve supplies cricothyroid, which tilts the thyroid cartilage forward and tenses the cords for pitch.

Why is "Lateral cricoarytenoid" not the answer?

Lateral cricoarytenoid adducts the cords and is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Why is "Thyroarytenoid" not the answer?

Thyroarytenoid is supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve and relaxes the cords.

Why is "Posterior cricoarytenoid" not the answer?

Posterior cricoarytenoid is the only abductor, and its loss would impair opening of the cords.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway anatomy, equipment, and airway management: curriculum recognition in Anaesthesia. It runs close to the superior thyroid vessels and can be injured during ligation. The other intrinsic muscles listed are supplied by the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

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 Airway anatomy, equipment, and airway management: curriculum recognition?

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.