On a non-contrast head CT of an adult, a small calcified focus lies in the midline just behind the third ventricle. What is it most likely to be?

The choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle

Neuro, head and neck and sectional anatomy

51 Gulf Prometric Radiographer (DHA, DOH, MOH, SCFHS, QCHP) practice questions on Neuro, head and neck and sectional anatomy, part of Radiographic Anatomy. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Medium
On a non-contrast head CT of an adult, a small calcified focus lies in the midline just behind the third ventricle. What is it most likely to be?
1. AThe optic chiasm
2. BThe pituitary gland
3. CThe pineal gland
4. DThe choroid plexus of the fourth ventricle
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Answer: C · The pineal gland
The pineal gland lies behind the third ventricle, above the superior colliculi, and calcifies in many adults. A shift of the calcified pineal from the midline can be a sign of mass effect. Choroid plexus calcification is usually seen in the lateral ventricles.
- A: The optic chiasm lies above the pituitary, in front of the third ventricle, and does not calcify.
- B: The pituitary lies in the sella turcica, below and in front of the third ventricle.
- D: The fourth ventricle lies further back and down, behind the pons.
Remember this
Midline calcification behind the third ventricle in an adult is usually the pineal gland.
Question 2 · Medium
The hypoglossal canal in the occipital bone carries which cranial nerve?
1. AX (vagus)
2. BXI (accessory)
3. CXII (hypoglossal)
4. DIX (glossopharyngeal)
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Answer: C · XII (hypoglossal)
The hypoglossal nerve leaves the skull through the canal in the occipital bone, near the foramen magnum, to supply the tongue muscles. Damage causes tongue deviation toward the lesion.
- A: The vagus nerve passes through the jugular foramen.
- B: The accessory nerve passes through the jugular foramen, not through its own canal.
- D: The glossopharyngeal nerve passes through the jugular foramen.
Remember this
The hypoglossal canal carries CN XII.
Question 3 · Hard
An angiogram shows a berry aneurysm at the junction of the internal carotid and posterior communicating arteries. Which cranial nerve is most likely to be compressed?
1. AOculomotor nerve (III)
2. BOptic nerve (II)
3. CTrochlear nerve (IV)
4. DAbducens nerve (VI)
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Answer: A · Oculomotor nerve (III)
The oculomotor nerve runs just below and beside the posterior communicating artery as it passes toward the cavernous sinus. An aneurysm here presses on it and causes a dilated pupil and a drooping lid, as the parasympathetic fibres on the outside are hit first.
- B: The optic nerve lies further forward, above the ICA.
- C: The trochlear nerve runs lower, around the brainstem.
- D: The abducens nerve is deep in the cavernous sinus and is not near the aneurysm.
Remember this
A posterior communicating artery aneurysm typically compresses the oculomotor nerve.
Question 4 · Medium
On an axial slice, the frontal sinuses, ethmoid air cells and sphenoid sinus are all part of the group called the:
1. ADural venous sinuses
2. BParanasal sinuses
3. CCarotid sinuses
4. DMastoid air cells
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Answer: B · Paranasal sinuses
The frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary sinuses are the paranasal sinuses, air-filled cavities lined with mucosa that drain into the nasal cavity. The ethmoid air cells lie between the orbits and the nose. Sinus CT is done without contrast to show bone and air detail.
- A: Dural venous sinuses are blood channels between layers of dura.
- C: The carotid sinus is a baroreceptor dilation at the carotid bifurcation.
- D: Mastoid air cells are in the temporal bone, behind the ear.
Remember this
Frontal, ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary sinuses are the paranasal sinuses.
Question 5 · Easy
The mastoid air cells lie within which bone?
1. AParietal bone
2. BTemporal bone
3. CSphenoid bone
4. DOccipital bone
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Answer: B · Temporal bone
The mastoid process is part of the temporal bone, behind the external acoustic meatus, and contains air cells that connect with the middle ear through the mastoid antrum. Infection can spread from the middle ear into them (mastoiditis).
- A: The parietal bones form the upper sides of the vault and have no air cells.
- C: The sphenoid contains the sphenoid sinus, not the mastoid air cells.
- D: The occipital bone forms the back of the skull base around the foramen magnum.
Remember this
The mastoid air cells lie in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
Question 6 · Medium
A cervical vertebra that has a ring shape with no vertebral body and articulates with the occipital condyles is the:
1. AAxis (C2)
2. BVertebra prominens (C7)
3. CAtlas (C1)
4. DThird cervical vertebra (C3)
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Medium
On a midline sagittal MRI, the fourth ventricle lies between which structures?
1. AMidbrain in front, occipital lobe behind
2. BPons and medulla in front, cerebellum behind
3. CClivus in front, pons behind
4. DThalamus in front, pineal behind
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Medium
In the circle of Willis, which artery links the internal carotid artery to the posterior cerebral artery?
1. ABasilar artery
2. BAnterior communicating artery
3. CPosterior communicating artery
4. DMiddle cerebral artery
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Easy
The medulla oblongata becomes the spinal cord at the level of which skull opening?
1. AJugular foramen
2. BForamen magnum
3. COptic canal
4. DForamen ovale
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Question 10 · Medium
Which venous sinus lies along the upper, convex margin of the falx cerebri?
1. ACavernous sinus
2. BSigmoid sinus
3. CSuperior sagittal sinus
4. DStraight sinus
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Easy
Which small opening connects each lateral ventricle with the third ventricle?
1. ACerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius)
2. BInterventricular foramen (of Monro)
3. CMedian aperture of the fourth ventricle (Magendie)
4. DLateral aperture of the fourth ventricle (Luschka)
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Medium
Which two structures flank the posterior limb of the internal capsule on axial imaging?
1. AThe caudate and the insula
2. BThe corpus callosum and the lateral ventricle
3. CThe pons and the cerebellum
4. DThe thalamus medially and the lentiform nucleus laterally
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Question 13 · Medium
Which cranial nerve lies within the lumen of the cavernous sinus, beside the internal carotid artery?
1. AOptic nerve (II)
2. BAbducens nerve (VI)
3. CFacial nerve (VII)
4. DHypoglossal nerve (XII)
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Medium
Through which openings in the cervical vertebrae does the vertebral artery normally ascend, before it enters the skull?
1. ASpinous process notches
2. BTransverse foramina of C6 to C1
3. CVertebral foramen of the atlas only
4. DIntervertebral foramina of C2 to C7
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Question 15 · Easy
Which paranasal sinus is the largest?
1. AEthmoid
2. BMaxillary
3. CSphenoid
4. DFrontal
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Question 16 · Medium
Through which openings does CSF leave the fourth ventricle to enter the subarachnoid space?
1. AArachnoid granulations
2. BCerebral aqueduct
3. CForamina of Monro
4. DForamina of Luschka and Magendie
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Easy
Where is most of the cerebrospinal fluid produced?
1. AChoroid plexus of the ventricles
2. BThe pituitary gland
3. CArachnoid granulations
4. DThe meninges
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Question 18 · Hard
A CT shows dilated lateral ventricles and a dilated third ventricle, with a normal-sized fourth ventricle. At which level is the CSF obstruction most likely?
1. AForamina of Monro
2. BArachnoid granulations
3. CForamina of Luschka and Magendie
4. DCerebral aqueduct
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Medium
Which MRI sequence is best for seeing periventricular white matter lesions, because it suppresses the signal of CSF?
1. AT1 without contrast
2. BT2 spin echo
3. CT2 FLAIR
4. DDiffusion weighted imaging
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Question 20 · Medium
Into which part of the nasal cavity does the maxillary sinus normally drain?
1. AInferior meatus
2. BMiddle meatus
3. CSphenoethmoidal recess
4. DSuperior meatus
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Question 21 · Medium
On a correctly positioned PA axial (Caldwell) view for the sinuses, where should the petrous ridges lie?
1. AIn the upper third of the orbits
2. BOver the frontal sinuses
3. CIn the lower third of the orbits
4. DBelow the maxillary sinuses
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Medium
A CT of the skull base after trauma shows a fracture line near a foramen. Which foramen transmits the middle meningeal artery?
1. AForamen rotundum
2. BOptic canal
3. CForamen spinosum
4. DForamen ovale
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Question 23 · Medium
Which structure of the skull base is perforated by the olfactory nerve fibres?
1. ACribriform plate of the ethmoid
2. BSella turcica
3. CForamen rotundum
4. DOptic canal
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Question 24 · Medium
On a sagittal lumbar MRI, the bundle of nerve roots inside the thecal sac below the conus medullaris is the:
1. ADorsal root ganglion
2. BCauda equina
3. CFilum terminale, a fibrous strand
4. DBrachial plexus
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Question 25 · Medium
A midline sagittal MRI of the brain is being reviewed. The thickest, most posterior part of the corpus callosum is the:
1. AFornix
2. BSplenium
3. CGenu of the corpus callosum
4. DRostrum of the corpus callosum
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

26 more Neuro, head and neck and sectional anatomy questions

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Neuro, head and neck and sectional anatomy

On a non-contrast head CT of an adult, a small calcified focus lies in the midline just behind the third ventricle. What is it most likely to be?

The hypoglossal canal in the occipital bone carries which cranial nerve?

An angiogram shows a berry aneurysm at the junction of the internal carotid and posterior communicating arteries. Which cranial nerve is most likely to be compressed?

On an axial slice, the frontal sinuses, ethmoid air cells and sphenoid sinus are all part of the group called the:

The mastoid air cells lie within which bone?

A cervical vertebra that has a ring shape with no vertebral body and articulates with the occipital condyles is the:

On a midline sagittal MRI, the fourth ventricle lies between which structures?

In the circle of Willis, which artery links the internal carotid artery to the posterior cerebral artery?

The medulla oblongata becomes the spinal cord at the level of which skull opening?

Which venous sinus lies along the upper, convex margin of the falx cerebri?

Which small opening connects each lateral ventricle with the third ventricle?

Which two structures flank the posterior limb of the internal capsule on axial imaging?

Which cranial nerve lies within the lumen of the cavernous sinus, beside the internal carotid artery?

Through which openings in the cervical vertebrae does the vertebral artery normally ascend, before it enters the skull?

Which paranasal sinus is the largest?

Through which openings does CSF leave the fourth ventricle to enter the subarachnoid space?

Where is most of the cerebrospinal fluid produced?

A CT shows dilated lateral ventricles and a dilated third ventricle, with a normal-sized fourth ventricle. At which level is the CSF obstruction most likely?

Which MRI sequence is best for seeing periventricular white matter lesions, because it suppresses the signal of CSF?

Into which part of the nasal cavity does the maxillary sinus normally drain?

On a correctly positioned PA axial (Caldwell) view for the sinuses, where should the petrous ridges lie?

A CT of the skull base after trauma shows a fracture line near a foramen. Which foramen transmits the middle meningeal artery?

Which structure of the skull base is perforated by the olfactory nerve fibres?

On a sagittal lumbar MRI, the bundle of nerve roots inside the thecal sac below the conus medullaris is the:

A midline sagittal MRI of the brain is being reviewed. The thickest, most posterior part of the corpus callosum is the: