Lower limb: talar neck fracture: 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 · Lower limb: talar neck fracture

Sample item

A man in a road accident has a displaced fracture through the neck of the talus. Months later, the body of the talus shows increased density and collapse. Why is the body vulnerable?

AIt has a thick muscular attachment that carries the bloodBMost of its blood supply enters through the neck and flows retrogradelyCIt is supplied only by the dorsalis pedis artery at the headDIts blood supply enters directly through the body from the calcaneus

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Most of its blood supply enters through the neck and flows retrogradely

Almost the whole talus is covered by articular cartilage and has no muscle attachments, so its vessels enter through the neck and sinus tarsi and supply the body in retrograde fashion. A displaced neck fracture can cut off the supply of the body, leading to avascular necrosis.

Option by option

A. It has a thick muscular attachment that carries the blood
The talus has no muscle attachments to carry blood to it.
B. Most of its blood supply enters through the neck and flows retrogradely (correct)
Correct. Vessels enter via the neck and supply the body retrogradely, so a neck fracture interrupts them.
C. It is supplied only by the dorsalis pedis artery at the head
The talus is supplied by branches of three arteries, not just at the head.
D. Its blood supply enters directly through the body from the calcaneus
There is no direct vessel from the calcaneus into the talar body.

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 Anatomy question

What is the answer to this Anatomy question?

The best answer is B, Most of its blood supply enters through the neck and flows retrogradely. Almost the whole talus is covered by articular cartilage and has no muscle attachments, so its vessels enter through the neck and sinus tarsi and supply the body in retrograde fashion.

Why is "It has a thick muscular attachment that carries the blood" not the answer?

The talus has no muscle attachments to carry blood to it.

Why is "It is supplied only by the dorsalis pedis artery at the head" not the answer?

The talus is supplied by branches of three arteries, not just at the head.

Why is "Its blood supply enters directly through the body from the calcaneus" not the answer?

There is no direct vessel from the calcaneus into the talar body.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Lower limb: talar neck fracture in Anatomy. A displaced neck fracture can cut off the supply of the body, leading to avascular necrosis.

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 Lower limb: talar neck fracture?

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.