Thorax: bronchial arteries: 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 · Thorax: bronchial arteries

Sample item

A man with long-standing bronchiectasis has life-threatening haemoptysis and is sent for angiographic embolisation. Which vessels are usually the source of the bleeding?

ATributaries of the pulmonary veinsBBronchial arteries from the descending aortaCLobar branches of the pulmonary trunkDAnterior intercostal branches of the internal thoracic artery

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Bronchial arteries from the descending aorta

The lungs' nutritive supply comes from the bronchial arteries, which arise from the thoracic aorta (or upper posterior intercostal arteries) and run along the bronchi. In chronic inflammation they hypertrophy and become the usual source of massive haemoptysis. Pulmonary arteries carry low-pressure blood and bleed far less often.

Option by option

A. Tributaries of the pulmonary veins
Veins return oxygenated blood to the left atrium and are not the source of arterial bleeding.
B. Bronchial arteries from the descending aorta (correct)
Correct. These systemic, high-pressure vessels supply the bronchial walls and hypertrophy in chronic infection.
C. Lobar branches of the pulmonary trunk
These carry low-pressure deoxygenated blood and are an uncommon source of major bleeding.
D. Anterior intercostal branches of the internal thoracic artery
These supply the chest wall, though they may form collaterals in some conditions; they are not the usual source.

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, Bronchial arteries from the descending aorta. The lungs' nutritive supply comes from the bronchial arteries, which arise from the thoracic aorta (or upper posterior intercostal arteries) and run along the bronchi.

Why is "Tributaries of the pulmonary veins" not the answer?

Veins return oxygenated blood to the left atrium and are not the source of arterial bleeding.

Why is "Lobar branches of the pulmonary trunk" not the answer?

These carry low-pressure deoxygenated blood and are an uncommon source of major bleeding.

Why is "Anterior intercostal branches of the internal thoracic artery" not the answer?

These supply the chest wall, though they may form collaterals in some conditions; they are not the usual source.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thorax: bronchial arteries in Anatomy. In chronic inflammation they hypertrophy and become the usual source of massive haemoptysis. Pulmonary arteries carry low-pressure blood and bleed far less often.

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 Thorax: bronchial arteries?

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.