Deck 13: The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflex Activity

Question 1

Receptors that respond to changes in room temperature are found in the skin. Which of the following pairs of classifications below best fit the receptor type that is being described above?

A) mechanoreceptors that are also exteroceptors
B) thermoreceptors that are also interoceptors
C) thermoreceptors that are also exteroceptors
D) mechanoreceptors that are also interoceptors

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A patient is suffering from the inability to distinguish various types of odors. This patient may have damage to which of the following?

A) olfactory nerve (I)
B) hypoglossal nerve (XII)
C) facial nerve (VIII)
D) vagus nerve (X)

Answer 2

A

Question 3

We can touch our finger to our nose while our eyes are closed in part because we can sense the position and movement of our joints as well as the length of stretch in our muscles. These sensations create awareness of our body's positioning. The following receptors are most likely responsible for this ability.

A) nociceptors
B) proprioceptors
C) interoceptors
D) exteroceptors

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A person has gone for an appointment to receive a deep-tissue therapeutic massage. Which of the following receptors would be stimulated by the massage?

A) lamellae corpuscle
B) tendon organ
C) free nerve ending
D) bulbous corpuscle

Question 5

An emergency medical technician is examining a trauma victim by shining a pen light into her patient's eye. She records the reactivity of the patient's pupils as they constrict when stimulated by the light. This test supports which of the following?

A) The patient has lost function of the optic nerve (II).
B) The patient has function of the trochlear nerve (IV).
C) The patient has suffered brain damage.
D) The patient has function of the oculomotor nerve (III).

Question 6

If someone spills very hot coffee (200°F) on their skin, they will likely perceive much pain. Which of the following receptor types is causing this sensation?

A) nociceptors
B) mechanoreceptors
C) thermoreceptors
D) chemoreceptors

Question 7

Tactile sensation is a combination of touch, pressure, stretch, and vibration. Which of the following is most likely the receptor type that senses tactile stimulation?

A) thermoreceptors
B) proprioceptors
C) mechanoreceptors
D) nociceptors

Question 8

Reciprocal inhibition means that while one sensory nerve is stimulated, another sensory neuron for synergistic muscles in the same area is inhibited and cannot respond.

Question 9

The second cranial nerve forms a chiasma at the base of the brain for partial crossover of neural fibers.

Question 10

Lamellar corpuscles can only be exteroceptors or proprioceptors.

Question 11

Which of the following is the best explanation of how a stimulus's strength is transmitted to the central nervous system from sensory nerves?

A) Action potential frequency is increased as stimulus strength increases.
B) An action potential will increase in strength as stimulus strength increases.
C) Action potentials as well as graded potentials are sent to the central nervous system when stimulus strength increases.
D) More than one type of receptor will respond to larger stimulus.

Question 12

Irritation of the phrenic nerve may cause diaphragm spasms called hiccups.

Question 13

The meningeal branch of a spinal nerve actually reenters the vertebral canal to innervate the meninges and blood vessels.

Question 14

As a cook chops red onions he begins to tear up due to activation of the lacrimal gland. Which of the following nerves provided the stimulus?

A) the vagus nerve (X)
B) the facial nerve (VII)
C) the optic nerve (II)
D) the olfactory nerve (I)

Question 15

Dorsal and ventral rami are similar in that they both contain sensory and motor fibers.

Question 16

The musculocutaneous nerve is a major nerve of the brachial plexus.

Question 17

A bit of dust blows into and touches the cornea of the eye. Which of the following is likely to happen?

A) Stimulation of the optic nerve (II) will cause tears to flow from the lacrimal gland.
B) Nothing, because there is no sensory information sent from the cornea.
C) Stimulation of the facial nerve (VII) will be perceived as pain.
D) Stimulation of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (V) will cause blinking.

Question 18

Drooping of the upper eyelid, and double vision are potential symptoms of damage to the olfactory nerve.

Question 19

A patient has lost the ability to taste food. Which nerve may have been damaged?

A) the abducens nerves
B) the optic nerves
C) trigeminal nerves
D) the facial nerves

Question 20

A doctor asks her patient to follow the motion of her finger as she moves it up and down, left and right. Which of the following cranial nerves is NOT being tested?

A) the oculomotor nerve (III)
B) the abducens (VI)
C) the vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)
D) the trochlear nerve (IV)

Question 21

The cranial nerve that emerges from the pons and serves the motor and proprioceptive functions of the eyeball is the .

A) vagus
B) abducens
C) hypoglossal
D) glossopharyngeal

Question 22

In a crossed-extensor reflex, if the right arm was grabbed it would flex and the left arm would .

A) abduct
B) extend
C) adduct
D) also flex

Question 23

Starting at the spinal cord, the subdivisions of the brachial plexus are (in order) .

A) divisions, roots, trunks, and cords
B) roots, divisions, cords, and trunks
C) roots, trunks, divisions, and cords
D) trunks, divisions, cords, and roots

Question 24

A patient has an injury of the spine and is now suffering from a loss of motor function in his right arm. However, he still has normal sensory function in the arm. Based on this information it is likely that the patient
Has nervous tissue damage located at .

A) the dorsal root located at one or more of the cervical vertebra
B) the dorsal rootlets located at one of the thoracic vertebra
C) the ventral root located at one or more of the cervical vertebra
D) spinal nerves of the cervical vertebra

Question 25

Nerves that carry impulses toward the CNS only are .

A) motor nerves
B) mixed nerves
C) efferent nerves
D) afferent nerves

Question 26

Injury to cervical vertebrae C3-C4 is particularly problematic because .

A) several ganglia are near this region that serve the heart
B) part of the brain stem is located here
C) the greater auricular nerve that serve the parotid gland receive there fibers from here
D) the phrenic nerve that serves the diaphragm receives its fibers from here

Question 27

Complicated interlacing of the ventral rami form networks called nerve plexus. The crisscrossing of the nerve fibers from the various spinal nerves is advantageous because _ .

A) having several nerve fibers unite enhances sensory function
B) injury to any single spinal nerve will be less damaging as there is less chance of total loss of innervation to any particular organ
C) viruses that infect us by moving through PNS nerves are prevented entry to the CNS
D) having several nerve fibers unite enhances motor function

Question 28

Which receptors respond to stimuli within the body?

A) photoreceptors
B) interoceptors
C) exteroceptors
D) proprioceptors

Question 29

Striking the "funny bone" is actually stimulation of (or injury to) the .

A) median nerve
B) radial nerve
C) sciatic nerve
D) ulnar nerve

Question 30

Dermatome maps are useful to clinicians because _.

A) they show the routes of motor nerves
B) they can help pinpoint the location of spinal injury
C) they outline the location of the numerous nerve plexus
D) they show doctors how to avoid striking spinal nerves during surgery

Question 31

Inborn or intrinsic reflexes are .

A) involuntary, yet may be modified by learned behavior
B) autonomic only
C) always mediated by the brain
D) rapid, predictable, and can be learned responses

Question 32

Bill is a mechanic that works with vibrating tools. He also exerts force on his wrists when twisting wrenches and screws. Bill has a tingling sensation in the lateral portion of his hand. The doctor suspects carpal tunnel syndrome. Which of the following tests might the doctor try on her patient?

A) Check for reflex on the medial condyle of the humerus with a rubber mallet.
B) Check for hyperextension at the knuckles of the little and ring finger.
C) Have Bill flex and extend his arm against resistance.
D) Have Bill grip an object with his thumb and index finger and try to pull the object away.

Question 33

A reflex that causes muscle relaxation and lengthening in response to muscle tension is called a .

A) tendon reflex
B) flexor reflex
C) plantar reflex
D) crossed-extensor reflex

Question 34

After axonal injury, regeneration in peripheral nerves is guided by .

A) Wallerian cells
B) Schwann cells
C) Golgi organs
D) dendrites

Question 35

All processing at the circuit level going up to the perceptual level must synapse in the .

A) reticular formation
B) medulla
C) pons
D) thalamus

Question 36

Select the correct definition.

A) Pattern recognition allows us to see a familiar face.
B) Perceptual detection is the ability to detect how much stimulus is applied to the body.
C) Spatial discrimination allows us to recognize textures.
D) Magnitude estimation is the simplest level of sensation.

Question 37

Regeneration within the CNS .

A) typically allows axonal sprouting of 20 mm
B) is promoted by growth inhibitors and glial scars
C) is more successful than with the PNS
D) is prevented due to growth-inhibiting proteins of oligodendrocytes

Question 38

Which of the following nerves does NOT arise from the brachial plexus?

A) radial
B) median
C) phrenic
D) ulnar

Question 39

The posterior side of the thigh, leg, and foot is served by the nerve.

A) femoral
B) common fibular
C) obturator
D) tibial

Question 40

Spinal nerves exiting the cord from the level of L4 to S4 form the .

A) femoral plexus
B) lumbar plexus
C) thoracic plexus
D) sacral plexus

Question 41

Problems in balance may follow trauma to which nerve?

A) abducens
B) trigeminal
C) accessory
D) vestibulocochlear

Question 42

Which of the following is the correct simple spinal reflex arc?

A) effector, afferent neuron, integration center, efferent neuron, receptor
B) receptor, afferent neuron, integration center, efferent neuron, effector
C) receptor, efferent neuron, integration center, afferent neuron, effector
D) effector, efferent neuron, integration center, afferent neuron, receptor

Question 43

One of the adaptive advantages of human body hair is believed to be its ability to help us detect potentially harmful insects crawling or landing on our skin. Which receptor type is most associated with this type of perception?

Question 44

A fall or an improperly delivered gluteal injection could result in .

A) phantom limb pain
B) sciatica
C) postpoliomyelitis muscular atrophy
D) neurofibromatosis

Question 45

Bell's palsy is _.

A) characterized by paralysis of facial muscles
B) often caused by inflammation of the trigeminal nerve
C) characterized by loss of vision
D) characterized by partial paralysis of diaphragm muscles

Question 46

A patient who received a blow to the side of the skull exhibits the following signs and symptoms on that side of the face: he is unable to close his eye and the corner of his mouth droops. Which cranial nerve has been damaged?

A) facial
B) hypoglossal
C) glossopharyngeal
D) accessory

Question 47

Mixed cranial nerves containing both motor and sensory fibers include all EXCEPT which of the following?

A) oculomotor
B) trigeminal
C) olfactory
D) facial

Question 48

Describe the cause and symptoms of paresthesia.

Question 49

A fracture of the ethmoid bone could result in damage to which cranial nerve?

A) accessory
B) vagus
C) olfactory
D) glossopharyngeal

Question 50

Which of the body receptors have restricted locations and constantly advise the brain of our body movements?

Question 51

Transduction refers to conversion of _ .

A) receptor energy to stimulus energy
B) stimulus energy into energy of a graded potential
C) afferent impulses to efferent impulses
D) presynaptic nerve impulses to postsynaptic nerve impulses

Question 52

If the ventral root of a spinal nerve were cut, what would be the result in the tissue or region that nerve supplies?

A) a complete loss of voluntary movement
B) a complete loss of sensation
C) loss of neither sensation nor movement but only of autonomic control
D) a complete loss of sensation and movement

Question 53

Feeling a gentle caress on your arm would likely involve all of the following EXCEPT .

A) Lamellar corpuscles
B) hair follicle receptors
C) Meissner's corpuscles
D) tactile discs

Question 54

The perineurium defines the boundary of a .

Question 55

Select the statement that is most correct.

A) The dorsal root ganglion is a motor-only structure.
B) Ganglia associated with afferent nerve fibers contain cell bodies of sensory neurons.
C) Ganglia are collections of neuron cell bodies in the spinal cord that are associated with efferent fibers.
D) The cell bodies of afferent ganglia are located in the spinal cord.

Question 56

Which nerve is compressed in carpal tunnel syndrome?

A) median
B) ulnar
C) axillary
D) radial

Question 57

Receptors that are stimulated by temperature changes are called _.

Question 58

The flexor muscles in the anterior arm (biceps brachii and brachialis) are innervated by what nerve?

A) musculocutaneous
B) radial
C) ulnar
D) median

Question 59

We are aware of our facial expression because of which functional feature of which cranial nerve?

Question 60

The sciatic nerve is a combination of which two nerves?

A) posterior femoral cutaneous and tibial
B) common fibular and tibial
C) pudendal and common fibular
D) pudendal and posterior femoral cutaneous

Question 61

Good friends Sami and Sara were picking roses when both encountered rose thorns. Sami just laughed and continued to pick more roses. Sara, however, had tears in her eyes and complained of how much the thorn prick hurt. What accounts for the difference in their response to the same pain stimulus?

Question 62

Mr. Smith staggered home after a long night at the local pub. While attempting to navigate the stairs, he passed out cold and lay all night with his right armpit straddling the staircase banister. When he awoke the next morning, he had a severe headache, but what bothered him more was that he had no sensation in his right arm and hand. Explain what caused this symptom in his arm.

Question 63

An adult patient shows Babinski's sign during a test of plantar reflex. How is Babinski's sign different than the normal response and what does the altered response indicate?

Question 64

Distinguish between monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes and between ipsilateral and contralateral reflex responses.

Question 65

Describe the steps of the regeneration process of a damaged peripheral nerve fiber.

Question 66

An incorrectly placed intramuscular injection can cause injury to which nerve of the sacral plexus?

Question 67

A patient suffers nerve damage to the median nerve, requiring surgery to suture the nerve back together. After surgery, the patient reports that sensation from the lateral and medial sides of the index finger seem to be reversed. How could this happen?

Question 68

Describe how the muscle spindles and the tendon organs vary in their role during the stretch reflex and opposing tendon reflex.

Question 69

Name three unencapsulated sensory receptors and tell what they are used for.

Question 70

The phrenic nerve arises from the left and right sides of cervical vertebra 3, 4 and 5. Describe the potential benefit of having the nerve exit from such a superior position and from multiple places on the spinal column.

Question 71

Describe the symptoms that may occur from lesions of the olfactory nerve, cranial nerve I.

Question 72

List and describe the functions of the three cranial nerves that serve the muscles of the eye.

Question 73

Information regarding skeletal muscle tension is provided by and muscle length by .

Question 74

Name and describe five examples of exteroceptors that are NOT cutaneous receptors of the skin.

Question 75

A nurse is asked what is tabes dorsalis and what causes it. What should the response be?

Question 76

Ralph sustained a leg injury in a bowling accident and had to use crutches. Unfortunately, he never took the time to learn how to use them properly. After two weeks of use, he noticed his fingers were becoming numb. Then he noticed his arms were getting weaker and tingling. What could be his problem?

Question 77

How is a receptor potential similar to an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) generated at a synapse?

Question 78

David, an aspiring baseball player, was struck on the left side of his face with a fastball pitch. He was not wearing a safety helmet. His zygomatic arch was crushed, as well as parts of the temporal bone. Following the accident and reconstructive surgery, he noted that his left lower eyelid was still drooping and the corner of his mouth sagged. What nerve damage did he sustain?