Head and neck: 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 · Head and neck

Sample item

A 2-year-old with stridor after a long period of intubation is found to have subglottic narrowing. Why is this the narrowest part of the child's airway?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. The cricoid ring is the narrowest part and is a complete ring

In young children the narrowest part is at the cricoid cartilage, which is a complete ring and cannot expand. In adults the rima glottis is the narrowest.

Option by option

  • A. The rima glottis is the narrowest part as in adults

    The rima glottis is narrowest in adults, not in young children.

  • B. The cricoid ring is the narrowest part and is a complete ring (correct)

    Correct. The cricoid is a complete ring and the narrowest point in children.

  • C. The epiglottis is the narrowest part

    The epiglottis is a leaf of elastic cartilage and does not form a ring.

  • D. The carina is the narrowest part

    The carina is a bifurcation and not a constriction of the airway.

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, The cricoid ring is the narrowest part and is a complete ring. In young children the narrowest part is at the cricoid cartilage, which is a complete ring and cannot expand.

Why is "The rima glottis is the narrowest part as in adults" not the answer?

The rima glottis is narrowest in adults, not in young children.

Why is "The epiglottis is the narrowest part" not the answer?

The epiglottis is a leaf of elastic cartilage and does not form a ring.

Why is "The carina is the narrowest part" not the answer?

The carina is a bifurcation and not a constriction of the airway.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Head and neck in Anatomy. In adults the rima glottis is the narrowest.

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 Head and neck?

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.