A 5-year-old child presents with a midline neck swelling that moves upward on protrusion of the tongue and swallowing. The swelling has a sinus opening at the base of the tongue. The most likely embryological remnant is:

• A Persistent thyroglossal duct ✓
• B Remnant of 1st pharyngeal arch cartilage (Meckel's cartilage)
• C Remnant of cervical sinus of His
• D Persistent 2nd pharyngeal pouch

Explanation

The thyroglossal duct is the migratory tract of the thyroid from the foramen cecum at the base of tongue to its final position. If this duct persists, a thyroglossal duct cyst forms, typically in the midline at or below the hyoid bone. Because the duct passes through or near the hyoid bone, these cysts move upward on tongue protrusion (which elevates the hyoid). A branchial cyst (from the cervical sinus) is typically lateral, along the anterior border of sternocleidomastoid.

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

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.