Deck 3: The Central Nervous System

Question 1

Which type of glial cell lines the ventricles of the brain?

A) astrocytes
B) neurons
C) oligodendrocytes
D) ependymal cells

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the function of astrocytes?

A) They induce formation of the cerebro-spinal fluid.
B) They are important in the repair of brain injuries and in neural scar formation.
C) They take up excess H+ from the brain ECF.
D) They line the fluid-filled cavities of the CNS.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What causes neural damage following a cerebrovascular accident?

A) reduced CO2 and increased glucose delivery to the region of the brain deprived of its blood supply
B) toxic release from damaged brain cells of glutamate, which overexcites and subsequently destroys surrounding brain cells
C) a loss of the blood-brain barrier in the affected area of the brain as a result of rupture or occlusion of a cerebral vessel
D) production of ATP in the absence of oxygen

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is the most abundant type of neurons in the body?

A) motor neurons
B) efferent neurons
C) afferent neurons
D) interneurons

Question 5

Which glial cells possess phagocytic abilities?

A) astrocytes
B) ependymal cells
C) neurons
D) microglia

Question 6

Which statement concerning cerebrospinal fluid is NOT correct?

A) It is formed by the choroid plexuses and is reabsorbed across the arachnoid villi into the blood within the dural sinuses.
B) It serves as a shock-absorbing fluid to cushion the brain against jarring movements.
C) It comes into direct contact with the neuronal and glial cells.
D) It fills the subarachnoid space.

Question 7

What is the outermost layer of meninges?

A) arachnoid mater
B) dura mater
C) dural sinus
D) pia mater

Question 8

Which statement is an imaging technology in which images are reconstructed from differences in X-ray absorption?

A) computerized axial tomography
B) magnetic resonance imaging
C) positron emission tomography
D) radioactive tracing imaging

Question 9

Which statement is/are NOT part of the peripheral nervous system?

A) motor neurons
B) sympathetic nervous system
C) spinal cord
D) autonomic nervous system

Question 10

What are the vast majority of cells in the nervous tissues?

A) fibroblasts
B) glial cells
C) neurons
D) plexus cells

Question 11

Which statement regarding CSF production and flow is correct?

A) CSF is produced along the spinal cord.
B) CSF is produced by meningeal cells.
C) CSF enters the meningeal layer through the cerebral aqueduct.
D) CSF flows inferiorly along the dorsal subarachnoid space of the spinal cord.

Question 12

Which statement is correct for cerebrospinal fluid?

A) It is formed by the choroid plexuses.
B) It is formed by the arachnoid villi.
C) It separates the blood and brain to form the blood-brain barrier.
D) It separates the dura mater from the skull bone.

Question 13

Which component of the nervous system comprises sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions?

A) central nervous system
B) somatic nervous system
C) autonomic nervous system
D) afferent division

Question 14

What is the purpose of afferent neurons?

A) They transmit information to effector organs.
B) They have a motor function.
C) They transmit messages from receptors to the brain and spinal cord.
D) They are found in the cerebrum.

Question 15

Which characteristic is relevant to the endocrine system rather than the nervous system?

A) It releases chemicals into synaptic clefts.
B) Its chemical signals operate at very short distances.
C) Its speed of response is very rapid.
D) Signalling may target many diverse cells.

Question 16

In addition to producing cerebral spinal fluid,what else may ependymal cells do?

A) contribute to the formation of the blood-brain barrier
B) act as immune cells
C) function as neural stem cells
D) conduct neural impulses

Question 17

Which statement is NOT a function of astrocytes?

A) holding the neurons together in proper spatial relationship
B) lining the internal cavities of the brain and spinal cord
C) inducing the formation of the blood-brain barrier
D) taking up excess K+ to help maintain proper brain ECF ion concentration

Question 18

Which statement is correct for efferent neurons?

A) They carry information to the CNS.
B) They have cell bodies that originate in the CNS.
C) They lie entirely within the CNS.
D) They have cell bodies in the posterior gray horn

Question 19

Which statement concerning the blood-brain barrier is correct?

A) It limits the direct exchange of materials between the cerebrospinal fluid and brain.
B) It is formed in part by the tight junctions between the brain capillary cells.
C) It consists of the astrocyte processes that encircle the brain capillaries.
D) It is a barrier between the meninges.

Question 20

What is the normal sequence of structures activated for signal transmission and response in the body?

A) effector, afferent neuron, interneuron, efferent neuron, receptor
B) effector, efferent neuron, interneuron, afferent neuron, receptor
C) receptor, afferent neuron, interneuron, efferent neuron, effector
D) receptor, efferent neuron, interneuron, afferent neuron, effector

Question 21

Which region of the brain is smallest and oldest in evolutionary development?

A) cerebellum
B) brain stem
C) hypothalamus
D) forebrain

Question 22

Where is consciousness created?

A) cerebellum
B) cerebral cortex
C) frontal lobe
D) hypothalamus

Question 23

Which of the following does the left cerebral hemisphere NOT normally excel in?

A) musical ability
B) verbal tasks
C) math skills
D) logical and analytical tasks

Question 24

Somesthetic sensation ________________.

A) is initially processed by the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex
B) is the awareness of body position
C) is equally sensitive for all regions of the body surface
D) from the surface of the body is projected to the parietal lobe

Question 25

What is the function of the prefrontal association cortex?

A) It is concerned primarily with motivation and emotion.
B) It integrates somatic, auditory, and visual sensations.
C) It plays an important role in personality traits.
D) It localizes the source of sensory input and perceives the level of intensity of the stimulus.

Question 26

Which statement is correct for the brain cells?

A) They consist of glial cells only.
B) They can perform anaerobic metabolism when oxygen supplies are low.
C) They use only glucose as a fuel for energy production.
D) About 10 percent of the cells within the CNS are glial cells.

Question 27

What does the corpus callosum interconnect?

A) brain stem and cerebellum
B) brain stem and diencephalon
C) hypothalamus and thalamus
D) two cerebral hemispheres

Question 28

What is the function of an electroencephalogram?

A) It is a record of action potential activity in the cerebral cortex.
B) It represents the momentary collective postsynaptic activity in the cerebral cortex.
C) It displays smaller brain waves when the eyes are open than when the eyes are closed.
D) It displays smaller brain waves in brain death.

Question 29

If a person suffers a severe blow to the side of the head slightly above the ear,it is closest to which lobe of the cerebral cortex?

A) frontal
B) occipital
C) parietal
D) temporal

Question 30

Which statement best describes the arachnoid mater?

A) It is the innermost meningeal layer.
B) It is a delicate, richly vascularized meningeal layer that is "cobwebby" in appearance.
C) It is a tough, inelastic membrane that covers the central nervous system.
D) It is involved with the formation of cerebrospinal fluid.

Question 31

Which of the following associations is NOT correct?

A) frontal lobe/understanding language
B) occipital lobe/visual input
C) parietal lobe/proprioception
D) parietal lobe/somesthetic sensations

Question 32

Which is NOT accomplished by the cerebral cortex?

A) voluntary initiation of movement
B) control of breathing, circulation, and digestion
C) final sensory perception
D) language ability

Question 33

Which of the following does NOT apply to Wernicke's area?

A) It is usually developed in the left cerebral hemisphere.
B) It is responsible for controlling the muscles necessary for speaking ability.
C) It is concerned with language comprehension.
D) It plays a critical role in understanding both spoken and written messages.

Question 34

With what is language ability usually associated?

A) right cerebral hemisphere
B) left cerebral hemisphere
C) limbic system
D) prefrontal association cortex

Question 35

Damage to which area would result in the inability to perform accurate motor actions?

A) Brocas area
B) somatosensory cortex
C) premotor cortex
D) Wernicke's area

Question 36

Which describes the sense of body position?

A) somatosensory
B) kinesthetic
C) proprioception
D) integrated in the occipital lobe

Question 37

Which statement best describes the primary motor cortex?

A) It is located in the parietal lobes.
B) It is in the left cerebral hemisphere and controls the skeletal muscles on the right side of the body.
C) It is the only region of the brain involved in motor control.
D) It develops motor programs for specific voluntary tasks.

Question 38

Where is the primary motor cortex located?

A) posterior to the central sulcus
B) anterior to the central sulcus
C) in the temporal lobe
D) in the parietal lobe

Question 39

Which of the following does NOT participate in control of skeletal muscle activity?

A) limbic system
B) cerebellum
C) supplementary motor area
D) premotor cortex

Question 40

During cerebrovascular accidents,what type of receptors of neighbouring,healthy neurons does glutamate released by damage neurons bind to,thus initiating apotosis?

A) acetylcholine
B) calcium
C) epinephrine
D) NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartic acid)

Question 41

These memories are memories of facts that often result after only one experience,whereas another type of memories involve motor skills gained via repetitive training.

A) declarative; procedural
B) procedural; declarative
C) short-term; long-term
D) long-term; short-term

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT a function of the limbic system?

A) provide emotional overtones
B) coordinate aspects of learning
C) provide "reward" stimulation
D) provide conscious perceptions

Question 43

Which statement is correct for procedural memories?

A) They are associated with the temporal lobes and are closely associated limbic structures.
B) They are associated with the cerebrum.
C) They involve acquisition of motor skills gained via repetitive training.
D) They are associated with the hippocampus.

Question 44

Which of the following is NOT a function of the basal nuclei?

A) inhibition of muscle tone
B) coordination of impulses related to posture
C) suppression of unnecessary motor activity
D) autonomic control activity

Question 45

Which of the following function is NOT characteristic of the hypothalamus?

A) control of body temperature
B) centre for coordination with the autonomic nervous system
C) production of hormones for posterior pituitary gland
D) reception of sensory inputs from skeletal muscles

Question 46

What part of the brain plays a vital role in short-term memory,involving the integration of various related stimuli,and is also crucial for consolidation into long-term memory?

A) hippocampus
B) basal nuclei
C) cerebellum
D) cerebral cortex

Question 47

Which neurotransmitter is required for long-term potentiation?

A) epinephrine
B) acetylcholine
C) glycine
D) glutamate

Question 48

Which function is NOT associated with the hypothalamus?

A) control of respiration and circulatory function
B) control of thirst and urine output
C) control of body temperature
D) control of food intake

Question 49

Broca's area is located on the cerebral cortex of which lobe?

A) frontal
B) occipital
C) parietal
D) temporal

Question 50

Which of the following structures is NOT subcortical?

A) basal nuclei
B) thalamus
C) Wernicke's area
D) cerebellum

Question 51

Where do most of the cranial nerves originate?

A) brain stem
B) cerebellum
C) cerebral cortex
D) hypothalamus

Question 52

What does a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the basal nuclei cause?

A) schizophrenia
B) epilepsy
C) Parkinson's disease
D) depression

Question 53

Which statement best describes Parkinson's disease?

A) It is associated with a deficiency of serotonin.
B) It is characterized by an intention tremor.
C) It is characterized by a resting tremor.
D) It is caused by cerebellar disorder.

Question 54

Which part of the brain controls thirst and urine output,food intake,and body temperature,among other things?

A) cerebral cortex
B) hypothalamus
C) basal nuclei
D) thalamus

Question 55

The limbic system ______________________.

A) is a ring of structures surrounding the cerebellum
B) plays a key role in sensory perception
C) contains regions designated as reward and punishment centres

Question 56

Which of the following is the main function of Wernicke's area?

A) control of limb movements
B) hand-eye coordination
C) language comprehension
D) memory

Question 57

Which statement is correct for long-term potentiation?

A) It refers to increased responsiveness to mild stimuli following a strong or noxious stimulus.
B) It refers to an increase in strength of existing synaptic connections in pathways involved in initial storage of declarative information following brief periods of stimulation.
C) It involves decreased neurotransmitter release from the presynaptic cells
D) It involves transient strengthening of pre-existing synapses.

Question 58

Which of the following is NOT a structural component of the limbic system?

A) amygdala
B) cingulate gyrus
C) mammillary body
D) medulla

Question 59

Short-term memory ___________________________.

A) has a larger storage capacity than long-term memory
B) takes longer to retrieve than long-term memory
C) involves transient modifications in the function of pre-existing synapses, such as channel modification
D) has relatively stable memory trace

Question 60

Which statement concerning the thalamus is correct?

A) It performs preliminary processing of almost all sensory input on its way to the cortex.
B) It inhibits muscle tone throughout the body.
C) It controls thirst, urine output, and food intake.
D) It plays a role in emotional and behavioural patterns.

Question 61

Nerves ________________________.

A) contain both afferent and efferent fibres traversing between a particular region of the body and the central nervous system.
B) do not contain complete nerve cells.
C) are not present within the central nervous system.
D) are not present within the peripheral nervous system

Question 62

Which of the following is a monosynaptic reflex?

A) stretch reflex
B) withdrawal reflex
C) brain stem reflexes
D) crossed extensor reflex

Question 63

Which statement concerning the brain stem is NOT correct?

A) The medulla is part of the brain stem.
B) The brain stem is a critical connecting link through which all fibres traversing between the periphery and higher brain centres must pass.
C) The brain stem is an important link between nervous and endocrine systems.
D) The brain stem contains centres that control respiration, blood vessel and heart function, and digestive activities.

Question 64

What region of the brain houses the centre that controls the sleep-wake cycle?

A) hypothalamus
B) thalamus
C) brain stem
D) cerebral cortex

Question 65

Which of the following tracts transmits conscious sensory impulse regarding touch?

A) dorsal cerebellar
B) fasciculus gracilis
C) lateral spinothalamic
D) lateral corticospinal

Question 66

Which neuromodulator is implicated as a neural sleep factor?

A) adenosine
B) ATP
C) norepinephrine
D) enkephalin

Question 67

Which of the following cranial nerves primarily innervates visceral organs?

A) facial
B) trochlear
C) vagus
D) accessory

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT accomplished by the cerebral cortex?

A) personality traits
B) language ability
C) final sensory perception
D) control of circulation and digestion

Question 69

Which of the following characteristics does NOT describe short-term memory?

A) immediate storage
B) large capacity
C) permanently forgotten
D) transient modifications in functions

Question 70

Which component of the reflex arc directly sends an impulse to an organ making a response?

A) receptor
B) afferent pathway
C) integrating centre
D) efferent pathway

Question 71

Which of the following can activate the arousal system?

A) sensory activity
B) afferent sensory input
C) basal ganglion
D) frontal lobe

Question 72

Which statement concerning paradoxical sleep is NOT correct?

A) Paradoxical sleep is characterized by rapid eye movements.
B) A person normally passes through paradoxical sleep before entering slow-wave sleep.
C) Dreaming occurs only during paradoxical sleep.
D) The EEG pattern during paradoxical sleep is similar to that of an alert, awake person.

Question 73

Which statement is correct for slow-wave sleep?

A) It occupies a greater percentage of sleeping time than paradoxical sleep.
B) It is harder to arouse sleepers from than paradoxical sleep.
C) It is characterized by infrequent shifts in body position.

Question 74

What is the function of the cerebellum?

A) It is important for language function.
B) It is involved in coordination and planning of skilled voluntary muscle activity.
C) It inhibits muscle tone.
D) It is for sensory perception.

Question 75

Which statement concerning the cerebellum is correct?

A) It is concerned primarily with motor activity yet does not have any direct influence on efferent motor neurons.
B) It is part of the subcortical region of the brain.
C) It gives rise to resting tremors when diseased.
D) It is associated with declarative memories.

Question 76

Which statement concerning descending tracts is correct?

A) They relay messages from the brain to the efferent neurons.
B) They involve the lateral spinothalamic tract.
C) They are part of the peripheral nervous system.
D) They are a bundle of neuronal axons, some afferent and some efferent.

Question 77

Which statement is correct for the peripheral nervous system?

A) It consists of the 33 pairs of spinal nerves and the 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
B) It consists of nerve fibres that carry information between the CNS and other parts of the body.
C) Its fibres are myelinated by oligodendrocytes.
D) It consists of motor nerve fibres only.

Question 78

How does information travel up the spinal cord to the brain?

A) via the ventral root ganglion
B) via efferent pathways
C) via ascending tracts
D) via descending tracts

Question 79

Which statement concerning ascending tracts is correct?

A) They relay messages down the spinal cord from the brain to efferent neurons.
B) They carry impulses from the brain to the spinal cord.
C) They carry impulses from the CNS to the periphery.
D) They transmit signals derived from afferent input up the spinal cord to the brain.

Question 80

Which statement concerning the spinal cord is NOT correct?

A) Afferent fibres enter the spinal cord through the ventral root.
B) The dorsal and ventral roots at each level of the spinal cord join to form a spinal nerve.
C) The spinal cord is not as long as the vertebral column.
D) The ventral horn contains cell bodies of the efferent motor neurons that supply skeletal muscles.