Airway management: upper lip bite test: 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 management: upper lip bite test

Sample item

During airway assessment, a patient is asked to bite the upper lip with the lower incisors and cannot bite it at all (class III). What does this predict?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Difficult laryngoscopy and intubation

The upper lip bite test assesses jaw mobility and the prognathic ability of the mandible. Class III, in which the lower incisors cannot reach the upper lip, predicts difficult laryngoscopy and is often combined with Mallampati for better prediction.

Option by option

  • A. Difficult laryngoscopy and intubation (correct)

    Correct. Poor mandibular protrusion limits the laryngoscopic view.

  • B. Difficult mask ventilation due to a beard

    Beard is a separate predictor, not what this test assesses.

  • C. Difficult epidural placement

    The test has no bearing on neuraxial technique.

  • D. Increased risk of aspiration

    It does not predict regurgitation or aspiration.

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, Difficult laryngoscopy and intubation. The upper lip bite test assesses jaw mobility and the prognathic ability of the mandible.

Why is "Difficult mask ventilation due to a beard" not the answer?

Beard is a separate predictor, not what this test assesses.

Why is "Difficult epidural placement" not the answer?

The test has no bearing on neuraxial technique.

Why is "Increased risk of aspiration" not the answer?

It does not predict regurgitation or aspiration.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Airway management: upper lip bite test in Anaesthesia. Class III, in which the lower incisors cannot reach the upper lip, predicts difficult laryngoscopy and is often combined with Mallampati for better prediction.

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 Airway management: upper lip bite test?

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.