Pharyngeal Arches, Clefts and Pouches – 20 Hard MCQs

1. Which derivative is formed by Meckel’s cartilage?

Stapes Incus Styloid process Greater horn of hyoid

Meckel’s cartilage (1st arch) forms malleus and incus.

2. Nerve of the second pharyngeal arch is:

Trigeminal Facial Glossopharyngeal Vagus

Second arch derivatives are innervated by facial nerve.

3. Stylopharyngeus muscle is derived from which arch?

First Second Third Fourth

Stylopharyngeus is the only muscle of the third arch.

4. Which pharyngeal pouch gives rise to inferior parathyroid glands?

Second Third Fourth First

Third pouch dorsal wing → inferior parathyroids.

5. External auditory canal develops from:

First pouch First cleft Second cleft Second pouch

Only first cleft persists forming EAC.

6. Case:

A newborn has hypocalcemia and absent thymic shadow. Which embryological defect?

First arch failure Second pouch failure Third and fourth pouch failure Sixth arch failure

DiGeorge syndrome involves 3rd & 4th pouches.

7. Case:

Hoarseness of voice due to injury during thyroid surgery most likely affects:

Superior laryngeal nerve Recurrent laryngeal nerve Glossopharyngeal nerve Hypoglossal nerve

Recurrent laryngeal nerve supplies intrinsic laryngeal muscles.

8. Case:

A painless lateral neck swelling in a young adult is due to persistence of:

First pouch Second cleft Third pouch Fourth arch

Branchial cleft cysts arise from second cleft.

9. Case:

Loss of facial expression muscles indicates damage to derivatives of:

First arch Second arch Third arch Sixth arch

Muscles of facial expression arise from second arch.

10. Case:

Difficulty in swallowing due to stylopharyngeus dysfunction affects nerve:

Facial Trigeminal Glossopharyngeal Vagus

Stylopharyngeus is innervated by CN IX.

11. Which cartilage is NOT derived from the second arch?

Stapes Styloid process Lesser horn of hyoid Greater horn of hyoid

Greater horn comes from third arch.

12. Cricothyroid muscle is derived from:

Fourth arch Sixth arch Second arch Third arch

Cricothyroid is a fourth arch muscle.

13. Pulmonary arteries develop from which arch?

Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

Sixth arch forms pulmonary arteries.

14. Palatine tonsil develops from:

First pouch Second pouch Third pouch Fourth pouch

Second pouch forms palatine tonsil.

15. Ultimobranchial body originates from:

Third pouch Fourth pouch Fifth arch First arch

Fourth pouch gives rise to C cells of thyroid.