The cardiac neural crest cells are required for normal cardiovascular development. Ablation of cardiac neural crest results in which specific defect?

• A Persistent truncus arteriosus and interrupted aortic arch ✓
• B Transposition of great arteries only
• C Ventricular septal defect alone
• D Patent ductus arteriosus alone

Explanation

Cardiac neural crest cells (from rhombomeres 6-8) migrate through pharyngeal arches 3, 4, and 6 into the outflow tract, where they form the aorticopulmonary septum dividing the truncus arteriosus into the aorta and pulmonary trunk. Ablation leads to persistent truncus arteriosus (failure of septation) and interrupted aortic arch (from arch artery regression). Cardiac neural crest also contributes to the thymus, parathyroid, and thyroid C-cells via pharyngeal arch migration.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.