Ear and audiology: pars flaccida histology: practice question

A ENT 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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ENT · Ear and audiology: pars flaccida histology

Sample item

A histology student compares the two parts of the tympanic membrane. Which feature distinguishes the pars flaccida from the pars tensa?

AIt lacks the middle fibrous (lamina propria) layer, so it has only an outer epithelial and an inner mucosal layerBIt lacks the outer squamous epithelial layerCIt has well-developed radial and circular fibres in its middle layerDIt is the thicker and more taut part of the drum

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. It lacks the middle fibrous (lamina propria) layer, so it has only an outer epithelial and an inner mucosal layer

The pars tensa is trilaminar, with outer epithelium, a middle fibrous layer and inner mucosa. The pars flaccida above the lateral process of the malleus lacks the fibrous layer, so it is thin and lax. This weakness helps explain why retraction pockets and attic cholesteatoma start here.

Option by option

A. It lacks the middle fibrous (lamina propria) layer, so it has only an outer epithelial and an inner mucosal layer (correct)
Correct. The absent fibrous layer makes the pars flaccida lax and prone to retraction.
B. It lacks the outer squamous epithelial layer
Both parts have an outer epithelial layer continuous with canal skin.
C. It has well-developed radial and circular fibres in its middle layer
Radial and circular fibres belong to the pars tensa middle layer.
D. It is the thicker and more taut part of the drum
The pars tensa is the taut and thicker part, not the pars flaccida.

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.

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is A, It lacks the middle fibrous (lamina propria) layer, so it has only an outer epithelial and an inner mucosal layer. The pars tensa is trilaminar, with outer epithelium, a middle fibrous layer and inner mucosa.

Why is "It lacks the outer squamous epithelial layer" not the answer?

Both parts have an outer epithelial layer continuous with canal skin.

Why is "It has well-developed radial and circular fibres in its middle layer" not the answer?

Radial and circular fibres belong to the pars tensa middle layer.

Why is "It is the thicker and more taut part of the drum" not the answer?

The pars tensa is the taut and thicker part, not the pars flaccida.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Ear and audiology: pars flaccida histology in ENT. The pars flaccida above the lateral process of the malleus lacks the fibrous layer, so it is thin and lax. This weakness helps explain why retraction pockets and attic cholesteatoma start here.

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 Ear and audiology: pars flaccida histology?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT 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.