Pharynx and tonsils: otalgia after tonsillectomy: 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 · Pharynx and tonsils: otalgia after tonsillectomy

Sample item

A child complains of right ear pain on day 2 after tonsillectomy. The ear canal and drum are normal. Which nerve carries the pain to the ear?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Glossopharyngeal nerve

The tonsillar bed is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, whose tympanic branch supplies the middle ear. Pain from the tonsillar fossa is therefore referred to the ear. A normal ear with otalgia after tonsillectomy needs no antibiotics.

Option by option

  • A. Vagus nerve via Arnold branch

    Arnold's nerve refers pain from the larynx and hypopharynx.

  • B. Facial nerve

    The facial nerve gives no sensation from the tonsil bed.

  • C. Mandibular nerve

    The mandibular nerve refers pain from the teeth and jaw via the auriculotemporal nerve.

  • D. Glossopharyngeal nerve (correct)

    Correct. The glossopharyngeal nerve supplies the tonsil bed and the tympanic plexus.

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 ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Glossopharyngeal nerve. The tonsillar bed is supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, whose tympanic branch supplies the middle ear.

Why is "Vagus nerve via Arnold branch" not the answer?

Arnold's nerve refers pain from the larynx and hypopharynx.

Why is "Facial nerve" not the answer?

The facial nerve gives no sensation from the tonsil bed.

Why is "Mandibular nerve" not the answer?

The mandibular nerve refers pain from the teeth and jaw via the auriculotemporal nerve.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Pharynx and tonsils: otalgia after tonsillectomy in ENT. Pain from the tonsillar fossa is therefore referred to the ear. A normal ear with otalgia after tonsillectomy needs no antibiotics.

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 Pharynx and tonsils: otalgia after tonsillectomy?

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.