The pharyngeal arch involvement in DiGeorge syndrome is best described as which pair?

The pharyngeal arch involvement in DiGeorge syndrome is best described as which pair?

• A. First and Second
• B. Second and Third
• C. Third and Fourth
• D. Fourth and Fifth

Answer: (C)

DiGeorge syndrome arises from impaired development of the pharyngeal apparatus, especially the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches. The thymus, which is essential for T-cell maturation, comes from the third pouch, and the inferior parathyroids also arise from the third pouch, while the superior parathyroids come from the fourth pouch. When these pouches don’t develop properly, you get thymic aplasia (immune deficiency) and hypoparathyroidism (hypocalcemia), which are hallmark features of the syndrome. That combination points to involvement of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, making the pairing of these arches the best description.

DiGeorge syndrome arises from impaired development of the pharyngeal apparatus, especially the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches. The thymus, which is essential for T-cell maturation, comes from the third pouch, and the inferior parathyroids also arise from the third pouch, while the superior parathyroids come from the fourth pouch. When these pouches don’t develop properly, you get thymic aplasia (immune deficiency) and hypoparathyroidism (hypocalcemia), which are hallmark features of the syndrome. That combination points to involvement of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches, making the pairing of these arches the best description.