Question 1

Which of the following is a function of the thalamus?
A)secrete cerebrospinal fluid
B)secrete melatonin
C)process sensory information and relay it to the cerebrum
D)store memories
E)regulate food intake

Accepted Answer

The thalamus processes sensory information such as touch, vision, and hearing and relays it to the cerebrum for further processing.

Question 2

The reflex movement of the head toward a loud noise is directed by the mesencephalon.Which nuclei accomplish this?
A)substantia nigra
B)red nuclei
C)tectum
D)superior colliculi
E)inferior colliculi

Accepted Answer

The answer of The reflex movement of the head toward...

Question 3

Damage to the corpora quadrigemina would interfere with
A)control of autonomic function.
B)regulation of body temperature.
C)visual and auditory reflex movements of the head and neck.
D)conscious control of skeletal muscles.
E)control of breathing.

Accepted Answer

The corpora quadrigemina are responsible for the integration of visual and auditory reflex movements of the head and neck, such as turning the head to focus on a sudden noise or movement in the environment. Damage to this area would therefore interfere with these reflex movements.

Question 4

Joe begins to experience mood swings and disturbed thirst and hunger.Imaging studies indicate that a brain tumor is the likely cause of these disorders.In what part of the brain is the tumor most likely located?
A)prefrontal cortex
B)postcentral gyrus
C)basal nuclei
D)hypothalamus
E)reticular formation

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is the region of the brain that controls thirst, hunger, and mood. Therefore, a tumor in this area is the most likely cause of the described symptoms.

Question 5

Damage to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus leads to which problem?
A)an intense thirst
B)an uncontrolled sex drive
C)reduced ability to regulate body temperature
D)an insatiable appetite
E)production of a large volume of urine

Accepted Answer

Damage to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus leads to a reduced ability to regulate body temperature, as this area is involved in controlling thermoregulation.

Question 6

The medial nuclei of the thalamus
A)are part of the limbic system.
B)connect emotional centers in the hypothalamus with the frontal lobe.
C)produce the hormone oxytocin.
D)process visual information.
E)process olfactory information.

Accepted Answer

The medial nuclei of the thalamus connect emotional centers in the hypothalamus with the frontal lobe, making them part of the emotional processing pathway. They do not produce the hormone oxytocin, process visual information, or process olfactory information.

Question 7

Which of the following is (are)true of the epithalamus?
A)contains the mamillary body
B)forms the roof of the diencephalon
C)processes sensory information and relays it to the cerebrum
D)forms the cerebrum
E)creates the lateral ventricles

Accepted Answer

The epithalamus forms the roof of the diencephalon.

Answer: A 
 The mamillary bodies are located within the epithalamus.

Answer: C 
 The epithalamus helps to process sensory information and relay it to the cerebrum.

Answer: D 
 The cerebrum is not formed by the epithalamus.

Answer: E 
 The lateral ventricles are formed by the telencephalon, not the epithalamus.

Question 8

The ________ filters and relays sensory information to cerebral cortex.
A)cerebrum
B)thalamus
C)pons
D)medulla oblongata
E)cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The thalamus is responsible for filtering and relaying sensory information to the cerebral cortex. The cerebellum is responsible for motor coordination and balance, the medulla oblongata controls basic life-support functions such as breathing and heart rate, the cerebrum is responsible for higher mental processes such as thinking and decision-making, and the pons is involved in regulating sleep and arousal.

Question 9

Damage to the superior colliculi would interfere with the reflex ability to
A)express rage.
B)voluntarily move the arm.
C)react to a bright light.
D)react to loud noises.
E)maintain proper posture.

Accepted Answer

The superior colliculi are involved in visual processing and control reflexive responses to visual stimuli, such as reacting to a bright light.

Question 10

Which of the following is a function of the hypothalamus?
A)produces ADH
B)controls autonomic centers
C)regulates body temperature
D)secretes oxytocin
E)All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for producing ADH, controlling autonomic centers, regulating body temperature, and secreting oxytocin. Therefore, all of the answer choices are correct.

Question 11

The anterior nuclei of the thalamus
A)are part of the limbic system.
B)secrete pituitary hormones.
C)secrete melatonin.
D)receive axon collaterals from the optic nerve.
E)secrete pituitary hormones and melatonin.

Accepted Answer

The anterior nuclei of the thalamus are considered part of the limbic system, which is involved in emotions, motivation, and memory.

Question 12

Which of the following is a property of the mamillary bodies?
A)control reflex eating movements
B)process olfactory information
C)located in posterior hypothalamus
D)shaped like little breasts
E)All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The mamillary bodies control reflex eating movements, process olfactory information, and are located in the posterior hypothalamus. Additionally, they are named for their appearance, which is shaped like little breasts. Therefore, all of the answers are correct.

Question 13

The ________ relay auditory information to the auditory cortex.
A)pulvinar
B)lateral geniculates
C)medial geniculates
D)supraoptic nuclei
E)paraventricular nuclei

Accepted Answer

The medial geniculates relay auditory information to the auditory cortex, while the pulvinar and lateral geniculates relay visual information. The supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei are involved in controlling hormone release.

Question 14

The posterior nuclei of the thalamus include(s)the
A)basal nuclei.
B)lateral and medial geniculate nuclei.
C)mamillary body.
D)interthalamic adhesion.
E)All of the answers are correct.

Accepted Answer

The posterior nuclei of the thalamus include the lateral and medial geniculate nuclei, which are involved in processing visual and auditory information respectively. The basal nuclei are a separate group of nuclei involved in motor control. The mamillary body is part of the hypothalamus and the interthalamic adhesion is a small bridge of gray matter connecting the two halves of the thalamus.

Question 15

The tectum of the mesencephalon contains the
A)substantia nigra.
B)red nuclei.
C)superior and inferior colliculi.
D)cerebral peduncles.
E)basal ganglia.

Accepted Answer

The tectum of the mesencephalon contains the superior and inferior colliculi, which play important roles in visual and auditory processing, respectively. The substantia nigra and red nuclei are both located in the midbrain, but in the tegmentum rather than the tectum. The cerebral peduncles and basal ganglia are part of the larger forebrain and not located in the mesencephalon.

Question 16

The ________ receive visual input from the lateral geniculates.
A)substantia nigra
B)red nuclei
C)cerebral peduncles
D)superior colliculi
E)inferior colliculi

Accepted Answer

The superior colliculi receive visual input from the lateral geniculates and are involved in visual processing and eye movement. Substantia nigra and red nuclei are involved in motor control, while cerebral peduncles are involved in motor and sensory function. The inferior colliculi receive auditory input.

Question 17

The optic tracts carry visual information from the retina to the
A)pulvinar.
B)lateral geniculates.
C)medial geniculates.
D)supraoptic nuclei.
E)paraventricular nuclei.

Accepted Answer

The optic tracts project to the lateral geniculates, which are relay stations in the thalamus that further process visual information before sending it to the visual cortex.

Question 18

The ________ integrate(s)sensory information for projection to the cerebral cortex.
A)pulvinar
B)lateral geniculates
C)medial geniculates
D)supraoptic nuclei
E)paraventricular nuclei

Accepted Answer

The pulvinar nucleus is part of the thalamus and is involved in sensory processing, particularly integrating and filtering sensory information from different modalities (such as vision, audition, and somatosensation) before projecting it to the appropriate cortical areas. The lateral and medial geniculate nuclei are also part of the thalamus, but they specifically process visual and auditory information respectively, before projecting it to the visual and auditory cortices. The supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei are part of the hypothalamus and are involved in regulating various physiological processes such as water balance, temperature regulation, and hormone secretion, but not in processing sensory information for projection to the cortex.

Question 19

Examination of a tissue sample from the central nervous system reveals many darkly pigmented cells.This tissue probably came from the
A)nucleus gracilis.
B)nucleus cuneatus.
C)motor cortex.
D)substantia nigra.
E)red nucleus.

Accepted Answer

The presence of darkly pigmented cells in a CNS tissue sample is indicative of the substantia nigra, a region of the midbrain that contains dopamine-producing neurons. This region is an important part of the motor system and is involved in the regulation of movement. Dysfunction of the substantia nigra is associated with Parkinson's disease.

Question 20

The mamillary bodies of the hypothalamus
A)regulate lactation.
B)secrete oxytocin.
C)control feeding reflexes.
D)control heart rate and blood pressure.
E)secrete antidiuretic hormone.

Accepted Answer

The mamillary bodies of the hypothalamus are involved in controlling feeding reflexes, including the feeling of satiety and the regulation of appetite. They are not involved in lactation, oxytocin secretion, heart rate and blood pressure control, or antidiuretic hormone secretion.

Quiz 14: The Brain and Cranial Nerves

Which of the following is a function of the thalamus?

The reflex movement of the head toward a loud noise is directed by the mesencephalon.Which nuclei accomplish this?

Damage to the corpora quadrigemina would interfere with

Joe begins to experience mood swings and disturbed thirst and hunger.Imaging studies indicate that a brain tumor is the likely cause of these disorders.In what part of the brain is the tumor most likely located?

Damage to the preoptic area of the hypothalamus leads to which problem?

The medial nuclei of the thalamus

Which of the following is (are) true of the epithalamus?

The ________ filters and relays sensory information to cerebral cortex.

Damage to the superior colliculi would interfere with the reflex ability to

Which of the following is a function of the hypothalamus?

The anterior nuclei of the thalamus

Which of the following is a property of the mamillary bodies?

The ________ relay auditory information to the auditory cortex.

The posterior nuclei of the thalamus include(s) the

The tectum of the mesencephalon contains the

The ________ receive visual input from the lateral geniculates.

The optic tracts carry visual information from the retina to the

The ________ integrate(s) sensory information for projection to the cerebral cortex.

Examination of a tissue sample from the central nervous system reveals many darkly pigmented cells.This tissue probably came from the

The mamillary bodies of the hypothalamus