Deck 11: Introduction to the Central Nervous System

Question 1

Which area of the cerebral cortex has most likely been affected in a person who has developed speech problems as a result of a head injury?

A) The parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex
B) The temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex
C) The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex
D) The occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex

Answer 1

The frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex

Question 2

Which part of a person's brain is activated when he or she is choking on a piece of steak?

A) Thalamus
B) Hypothalamus
C) Pons
D) Medulla oblongata

Answer 2

Medulla oblongata

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of the basal ganglia?

A) The basal ganglia are located within the outer gray matter of the cerebrum.
B) The basal ganglia receive nerve input from all areas of the brain except those involved in regulating body movement.
C) The main function of the basal ganglia is to perceive and interpret sensory information.
D) The basal ganglia help regulate skeletal muscle activity.

Answer 3

The basal ganglia help regulate skeletal muscle activity.

Question 4

Which of the following structures does the diencephalon include?

A) The thalamus
B) The midbrain
C) The pons
D) The medulla oblongata

Question 5

The two main components of the central nervous system are:

A) the brain and the spinal cord.
B) the brain and the spinal nerves.
C) the cranial nerves and the spinal cord.
D) the cranial nerves and the spinal nerves.

Question 6

Which of the following parts of the brain is primarily concerned with the coordination and regulation of muscular activity?

A) The temporal lobe
B) The occipital lobe
C) The basal ganglia
D) The thalamus

Question 7

The _____ is the only part of the brain that is under conscious control.

A) thalamus
B) pons
C) medulla oblongata
D) cerebral cortex

Question 8

Identify an accurate statement about the cerebrum.

A) The cerebrum is the smallest part of the brain.
B) The cerebrum is the lowermost part of the brain.
C) The outer layer of each hemisphere of the cerebrum is composed of white matter.
D) The cerebrum controls all of the higher intellectual abilities of human beings.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of the thalamus?

A) The thalamus receives and evaluates almost all of the sensory nerve impulses from peripheral sensory receptors.
B) The thalamus passes the information it receives from the sensory receptors to the temporal lobes of the cerebral cortex.
C) The thalamus is part of the brainstem and is continuous with the spinal cord.
D) The thalamus regulates reflexes such as vomiting, coughing, swallowing, and gagging.

Question 10

Jacob's body is not stimulated by pain or temperature.Which of the following regions of his brain is most likely damaged?

A) The hypothalamus
B) The pons
C) The medulla oblongata
D) The thalamus

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true of the central nervous system (CNS)?

A) In the CNS, neurons having the same functions are generally separated from each other.
B) The primary function of the CNS is to carry motor responses to the various parts of the body.
C) The primary functions of the CNS are to coordinate and control the activity of other body systems.
D) The CNS is subdivided into two parts: the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.

Question 12

Alison is rushed to the hospital after suffering a serious head injury in a car accident.Dr.Jacob takes a few specialized scans of Alison's head to locate the site of injury in her brain.All the scans indicate damage to the temporal lobe of the brain.Alison's parents ask Dr.Jacob if Alison's functions will be impaired as a result of this brain injury.What is Dr.Jacob most likely to say?

A) Alison may suffer paralysis.
B) Alison may lose her memory.
C) Alison may face problems with her vision.
D) Alison may lose the ability to reason.

Question 13

The pituitary gland is closely associated with which structure of the brain?

A) Pons
B) Cerebral cortex
C) Hypothalamus
D) Medulla oblongata

Question 14

Hans is 75 years old.He is suffering from a degenerative disease that is characterized by muscular rigidity and tremors.Hans has trouble moving and sitting up straight.His doctor,Dr.Ross,suspects that Hans's condition is a result of the degeneration of the neurons within the basal ganglia of his brain.Based on the information provided in this scenario,Dr.Ross is most likely to diagnose Hans with _____.

A) Alzheimer's disease
B) Parkinson's disease
C) bipolar disorder
D) schizophrenia

Question 15

Identify a difference between the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia.

A) The cerebral cortex is composed of the bodies of neurons, whereas the basal ganglia are composed of the myelinated axons of neurons.
B) The basal ganglia are located within the outermost layer of the cerebrum, whereas the cerebral cortex is located within the innermost layer of the cerebrum.
C) The basal ganglia are composed of gray matter, whereas the cerebral cortex is composed of white matter.
D) The cerebral cortex perceives all sensory sensations and initiates all voluntary muscle movements, whereas the basal ganglia help coordinate and regulate muscular activity.

Question 16

Degeneration of the neurons in the basal ganglia leads to _____.

A) stroke
B) Alzheimer's disease
C) schizophrenia
D) Parkinson's disease

Question 17

Edward falls unconscious after injuring his head during a baseball match.He is rushed to the hospital and examined by Dr.Maverick.After a quick physical examination,Dr.Maverick instructs his assistant to take a CT scan of Edward's head.The scan reveals signs of damage to the frontal lobe of Edward's brain.How is this injury most likely to affect Edward?

A) Edward may lose his ability to perceive touch and pain.
B) Edward may develop hearing problems.
C) Edward may have trouble with his vision.
D) Edward may lose his ability to think in abstract terms and solve problems.

Question 18

Identify a function of the pons.

A) It controls body temperature and water balance.
B) It regulates reflexes such as vomiting, coughing, swallowing, and gagging.
C) It serves as a relay station for nerve fibers traveling to other brain areas.
D) It regulates the emotional and behavioral responses of the body.

Question 19

Esma suffered a serious head injury in a car crash about three months ago.Since the accident,Esma has had trouble learning and remembering new things and problems with hearing.Which of the following parts of her cerebrum has most likely suffered damage?

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

Question 20

All of the following are vital centers within the medulla oblongata except:

A) the thermoregulatory center.
B) the cardiac center.
C) the vasomotor center.
D) the respiratory center.

Question 21

The _____ is referred to as the master gland of the body.

A) pineal gland
B) pituitary gland
C) thyroid gland
D) thymus gland

Question 22

All of the following types of nerve impulses are carried by the axons of afferent neurons except:

A) nerve impulse for touch.
B) nerve impulse for pain.
C) nerve impulse for temperature.
D) nerve impulse for directing organ activity.

Question 23

The two types of medications that are most often used for people who have emotional or behavioral problems are:

A) neuroleptics and antipsychotics.
B) neuroleptics and anticonvulsants.
C) antianxiety drugs and antidepressants.
D) antianxiety drugs and antipsychotics.

Question 24

Alex hears a loud explosion outside his window.He immediately stands up and becomes more alert and attentive to his surroundings.Which part of Alex's brain has most likely been activated by the sudden explosion?

A) The reticular activating system
B) The inhibitory fibers of the reticular formation
C) The thalamus
D) The hippocampus

Question 25

Which of the following substances is most likely to enhance the activity of the reticular formation?

A) Alcohol
B) Barbiturates
C) Amphetamines
D) Depressants

Question 26

The axons of efferent neurons transmit nerve impulses carrying information associated with all of the following except:

A) pain.
B) voluntary movement.
C) involuntary movement.
D) glandular activation.

Question 27

Pablo switches off the lights in his room before getting into bed.With no noise,light,and other sources of external stimuli,Pablo's body begins to relax,and he becomes less alert to his surroundings.Which of the following functional components of Pablo's brain is activated under these conditions?

A) The limbic system
B) The excitatory fibers of the reticular formation
C) The inhibitory fibers of the reticular formation
D) The reticular activating system

Question 28

Henry,a college student,tends to drink a lot of coffee the night before an exam.The coffee helps him stay more alert and attentive late into the night.The presence of caffeine in the coffee stimulates the _____ of his brain.

A) limbic system
B) medulla oblongata
C) reticular formation
D) thalamus

Question 29

Which of the following is true of the location of the medulla oblongata?

A) It lies just above the spinal cord.
B) It lies behind the brainstem and below the cerebrum.
C) It is located just above the thalamus.
D) It is located directly below the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 30

The _____ is a collection of nerve axons that travel to and from the brain.

A) cerebellum
B) spinal cord
C) amygdala
D) medulla oblongata

Question 31

James is addicted to playing video games.Every time he passes by the television,he feels an overwhelming urge to switch it on and play on his gaming console.He often gives in to these urges and feels immense pleasure while playing video games.Which part of James's brain is stimulated in such situations?

A) The parietal lobe of the cerebral cortex
B) The cerebellum
C) The medulla oblongata
D) The limbic system

Question 32

Cedric sustained serious head injuries in a motorcycle accident two months ago.Since that day,Cedric has lost the ability to coordinate his body movements and maintain his posture.He often complains of experiencing muscle weakness and tremors.What is the most probable explanation for Cedric's condition?

A) Cedric may have injured his hippocampus in the accident.
B) Cedric may have injured his cerebellum in the accident.
C) Cedric may have developed Alzheimer's disease soon after the accident.
D) Cedric may have injured his frontal lobe in the accident.

Question 33

Which part of the brain does a medication for a gambling addiction need to affect?

A) The reticular formation
B) The limbic system
C) The basal ganglia
D) The thalamus

Question 34

Coordinating body movements and posture and helping maintain body equilibrium are the major functions of the _____.

A) cerebral cortex
B) cerebellum
C) pons
D) thalamus

Question 35

The pituitary gland is attached to the _____.

A) thalamus
B) hypothalamus
C) pons
D) cerebellum