Abdomen and pelvis: ureter: 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.

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Anatomy · Abdomen and pelvis: ureter

Sample item

A 35-year-old man with renal colic has a stone lodged at the pelvic brim on CT. Which vessel is the ureter crossing at this site?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Bifurcation of the common iliac artery

The ureter has three constrictions: the pelviureteric junction, the pelvic brim where it crosses the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, and the vesicoureteric junction. Stones tend to lodge at these sites.

Option by option

  • A. Inferior vena cava at the level of L3

    The ureter lies lateral to the inferior vena cava and descends on psoas, not crossing it.

  • B. Bifurcation of the common iliac artery (correct)

    Correct. The ureter crosses the common iliac bifurcation at the pelvic brim.

  • C. Aortic bifurcation at L4

    The ureter does not cross the aortic bifurcation; it passes lateral to it, on psoas, before crossing the iliac vessels.

  • D. Origin of the inferior mesenteric artery

    The inferior mesenteric artery lies on the left of the aorta and is not crossed by the ureter at the brim.

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, Bifurcation of the common iliac artery. The ureter has three constrictions: the pelviureteric junction, the pelvic brim where it crosses the bifurcation of the common iliac artery, and the vesicoureteric junction.

Why is "Inferior vena cava at the level of L3" not the answer?

The ureter lies lateral to the inferior vena cava and descends on psoas, not crossing it.

Why is "Aortic bifurcation at L4" not the answer?

The ureter does not cross the aortic bifurcation; it passes lateral to it, on psoas, before crossing the iliac vessels.

Why is "Origin of the inferior mesenteric artery" not the answer?

The inferior mesenteric artery lies on the left of the aorta and is not crossed by the ureter at the brim.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Abdomen and pelvis: ureter in Anatomy. Stones tend to lodge at these sites.

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 Abdomen and pelvis: ureter?

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.