Question 1

The rubrospinal tract originates in the

Accepted Answer

The rubrospinal tract originates in the red nucleus of the midbrain.

Question 2

The medullary reticulospinal tract originates in the

Accepted Answer

The medullary reticulospinal tract originates in the reticular formation of the medulla, as opposed to the reticular formation of the pons, vestibular nuclei of the medulla, or midbrain.

Question 3

The pontine reticulospinal tract originates in the

Accepted Answer

The pontine reticulospinal tract originates in the reticular formation of the pons.

Question 4

Donovan's doctor has found that, among other symptoms, he has significantly lower activity in his basal ganglia. Donovan's doctor will likely diagnose him with

Accepted Answer

Parkinson's disease is known to be characterized by significantly lower activity in the basal ganglia, a group of brain structures that play an important role in motor control. Alzheimer's disease primarily affects memory, while Huntington's disease is caused by a genetic mutation and manifests with a wide range of symptoms, including movement and cognitive difficulties. Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder that affects muscle function, but does not typically involve the basal ganglia.

Question 5

Evangeline is tutoring her sorority sister. She tells her that one of the ventromedial pathways is the tectospinal tract and it originates in the

Accepted Answer

The tectospinal tract is one of the ventromedial pathways that originates in the tectum of the midbrain. It plays a role in visual and auditory reflexes, as well as the orientation of the body in response to visual and auditory stimuli.

Question 6

One of the actions of the basal ganglia is the

Accepted Answer

The basal ganglia play a crucial role in inhibiting the thalamus, which is a relay center for sensory information and is involved in motor control as well. The basal ganglia achieve this inhibition by using the neurotransmitter GABA.

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT one of the ventromedial motor pathways?

Accepted Answer

The rubrospinal tract is part of the lateral motor system, not the ventromedial pathways. The ventromedial pathways include the reticulospinal, tectospinal, and vestibulospinal tracts, which are involved in posture and gait control.

Question 8

Kaci is studying for a quiz and makes a note that the two tracts that are parts of the lateral pathway are

Accepted Answer

The lateral pathway in the motor system includes the rubrospinal and corticospinal tracts, which are involved in voluntary movement control.

Question 9

Which of the following structures is part of the basal ganglia?

Accepted Answer

The putamen is part of the basal ganglia, a group of nuclei involved in motor control and planning. The red nucleus is part of the midbrain's motor system, the cerebellum is involved in movement coordination and balance, and the reticular formation is a complex network of nuclei that regulates various autonomic functions.

Question 10

Faith has been studying for a quiz and knows that pathways #1 and 2 are the

Accepted Answer

The answer of   Faith has been studying for a...

Question 11

You are going home one night when you drive through a sobriety checkpoint. The policeman asks you to get out of the car, holds one finger up in front of your face, and asks you to follow his finger with your eyes only. What is he doing?

Accepted Answer

The officer is checking to see if your cerebellum is functioning properly because the cerebellum is one of the first areas to be affected by alcohol. This test is called the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test and is commonly used by officers to determine if an individual is driving under the influence of alcohol. HGN refers to an involuntary jerking of the eyes as they gaze to the side. This jerking becomes more pronounced as a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) increases.

Question 12

Austin is in a band and plays the keyboard. Which motor pathway does he use most while playing the keyboard?

Accepted Answer

The lateral pathway, which includes the corticospinal tract, is primarily responsible for voluntary, fine motor control, such as the movements involved in playing the keyboard.

Question 13

The fact that symptoms of Huntington's disease include the inability to control voluntary movements makes sense because the major damage from Huntington's seems to be in the

Accepted Answer

The basal ganglia plays a crucial role in the initiation and control of fine motor movements. Damage to this area can lead to the inability to control voluntary movements, which is a major symptom of Huntington's disease.

Question 14

Kathleen is at a party and has consumed some alcohol. The first brain region to be inhibited (resulting in Kathleen having coordination problems) is the

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements and is one of the first brain regions to be affected by alcohol consumption. Kathleen's coordination problems suggest that her cerebellum has been inhibited. The basal ganglia, putamen, and caudate nucleus are also involved in motor function but are not typically affected as quickly as the cerebellum.

Question 15

The sequencing of complex movements is managed by the

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating and sequencing complex movements.

Question 16

A person with damage to the right hemisphere motor cortex will experience weakness or paralysis

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex in the brain controls movement on the opposite side of the body. Therefore, damage to the right hemisphere motor cortex will affect the left side of the body, causing weakness or paralysis.

Question 17

The corticospinal tract crosses the midline at the level of the

Accepted Answer

The corticospinal tract, also known as the pyramidal tract, crosses the midline at the junction between the medulla and spinal cord. At this level, the fibers of the tract decussate to form the lateral corticospinal tract which innervates the limbs and the ventral corticospinal tract which innervates the axial muscles. Option A is incorrect because the superior colliculi of the midbrain are involved in visual and auditory processing. Option B is incorrect because the junction between the midbrain and pons is the site of the corticobulbar tract, not the corticospinal tract. Option C is incorrect because the junction between the pons and medulla is the site of the trigeminal motor nucleus and the origin of the trigeminal nerve.

Question 18

Sherry turned her head quickly when she saw a flash of light off to the side. To do this requires the ______.

Accepted Answer

The rubrospinal tract is responsible for rapid head movements.

Question 19

Your friend was in an accident, and although his intelligence and personality are unchanged, he is no longer able to play his guitar, nor is he the coordinated athlete he once was. His symptoms may be the result of damage to which of the following areas?

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating movement and balance, so damage to this area could result in difficulty playing an instrument or engaging in athletic activities. The frontal lobes are responsible for higher-level thinking and decision-making, the occipital lobes are responsible for visual processing, and the hippocampus is responsible for memory formation and retrieval. Although damage to any of these areas can have significant effects, they would not necessarily explain the specific symptoms described in the scenario.

Question 20

Renae is studying for an important quiz on the ventromedial pathways. She writes in her notes that vestibulospinal tract originates in the

Accepted Answer

The vestibulospinal tract starts in the vestibular nuclei of the medulla oblongata.

Quiz 8: Movement