Question 1

Neural centers that control heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure are located in the
A) medulla.
B) thalamus.
C) cerebrum.
D) midbrain.

Accepted Answer

The medulla oblongata is part of the brainstem and contains centers that regulate vital autonomic functions such as heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure.

Question 2

Which of the following is not a midbrain structure?
A) third ventricle
B) corpora quadrigemina
C) cerebral peduncles
D) red nucleus

Accepted Answer

The third ventricle is part of the diencephalon, not the midbrain. The other structures listed are part of the midbrain.

Question 3

The hypothalamus, in addition to the cerebral cortex, is in control of emotional responses.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus plays an important role in regulating emotional responses, along with the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and other brain structures.

Question 4

Two parts of the brain that are most involved in emotions are the
A) cingulate gyrus and hypothalamus.
B) red nucleus and substantia nigra.
C) medulla and cerebellum.
D) superior and inferior colliculi.

Accepted Answer

The cingulate gyrus and hypothalamus are both part of the limbic system, which plays a key role in regulating emotions.

Question 5

The vasomotor center of the medulla regulates blood pressure.

Accepted Answer

The vasomotor center located in the medulla oblongata regulates blood pressure by controlling the dilation and constriction of blood vessels. It receives inputs from sensory receptors throughout the body and sends signals to the sympathetic nervous system to increase or decrease blood pressure as needed.

Question 6

The brain stem consists of the
A) midbrain, medulla, and pons.
B) midbrain only.
C) pons, medulla, cerebellum, and midbrain.
D) cerebrum, pons, midbrain, and medulla.

Accepted Answer

The brain stem is composed of the midbrain, medulla oblongata, and pons.

Question 7

All of the following can lead to hydrocephalus except
A) blockage of the cerebral aqueduct by a small brain tumor.
B) meningitis that scars the arachnoid mater.
C) Alzheimerʹs disease.
D) an overactive choroid plexus.

Accepted Answer

Alzheimer's disease does not typically cause hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is usually caused by obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow, impaired absorption, or overproduction, which are not characteristic of Alzheimer's.

Question 8

After someone faints, smelling salts of ammonia may be placed under the personʹs nose. The person breathes the ammonia vapors, which deliver a sharp jolt to the nasal membranes, and the person wakes up. This illustrates
A) the function of the hypothalamus in controlling sleep.
B) how smells elicit memories of being awake, causing the person to awaken.
C) how smells bring about emotions.
D) the function of sensory input to the reticular activating system.

Accepted Answer

Smelling salts stimulate the sensory nerves in the nasal passages, which in turn activate the reticular activating system in the brain, helping to restore consciousness.

Question 9

The only one of the meninges that follows the brain surface into a cerebral sulcus is the
A) pia mater.
B) alma mater.
C) dura mater.
D) arachnoid mater.

Accepted Answer

The pia mater is the innermost layer of the meninges and closely follows the contours of the brain, including the cerebral sulci.

Question 10

The pituitary gland (hypophysis) is connected to the hypothalamus and receives regulatory impulses that control the secretion of hormones.

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland is indeed connected to the hypothalamus and receives regulatory impulses from it to control hormone secretion.

Question 11

In the olivary nuclei in the medulla, mostly proprioceptive sensory impulses are relayed to the cerebellum.

Accepted Answer

Olivary nuclei in the medulla are responsible for relaying primarily proprioceptive sensory impulses from the spinal cord and brainstem to the cerebellum for coordination of movements.

Question 12

Which areas of the brain are most likely to process and store motor skill memories?
A) the thalamus and hypothalamus
B) the amygdala and cingulate gyrus
C) the premotor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum
D) the ependymal cells and ventricles

Accepted Answer

The premotor cortex, basal ganglia, and cerebellum are involved in planning, coordinating, and refining motor skills, making them key areas for processing and storing motor skill memories.

Question 13

The main visceral control center of the brain is the
A) thalamus.
B) reticular formation.
C) cerebral cortex.
D) hypothalamus.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating many of the body's visceral functions, including temperature, hunger, thirst, and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 14

Which of the following is not part of the basal ganglia?
A) putamen
B) Wernickeʹs area
C) caudate nucleus
D) globus pallidus

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's area is not part of the basal ganglia. It is a region of the brain involved in language comprehension.

Question 15

Sleep-wake cycles are controlled by the pineal gland and the
A) medulla oblongata.
B) visual cortex.
C) hypothalamus.
D) thalamus.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus, specifically the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), plays a crucial role in regulating sleep-wake cycles by controlling the production of melatonin in the pineal gland.

Question 16

If the most caudal part of the CNS is the conus medullaris, then the most rostral part is/are the
A) prefrontal lobes.
B) precentral and postcentral gyri.
C) hypothalamus.
D) cauda equina.

Accepted Answer

The most rostral part of the CNS is the prefrontal lobes, which are located at the front of the brain. The conus medullaris is at the caudal end of the spinal cord, while the prefrontal lobes are at the rostral end of the brain.

Question 17

Which of the following grooves separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum?
A) longitudinal fissure
B) central sulcus
C) lateral sulcus
D) transverse cerebral fissure

Accepted Answer

The transverse cerebral fissure separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum.

Question 18

A cerebrovascular accident patient who is unable to recognize faces and objects but can still visually perceive spatial arrangement of objects most likely has damage to
A) the temporal lobe.
B) the primary visual cortex.
C) the posterior association area.
D) the occipital lobe.

Accepted Answer

Damage to the temporal lobe, specifically the fusiform gyrus, can result in prosopagnosia (inability to recognize faces) and object agnosia, while still allowing for spatial perception.

Question 19

The ventral portion of the cerebral peduncles connects the midbrain to the cerebellum and contains the pyramidal (corticospinal) motor tracts descending to the spinal cord.

Accepted Answer

The ventral portion of the cerebral peduncles connects the midbrain to the pons, not the cerebellum. It does contain motor tracts, but they are not exclusively pyramidal (corticospinal) tracts.

Question 20

A shallow groove on the surface of the cerebral cortex is called a
A) gyrus.
B) furrow.
C) fissure.
D) sulcus.

Accepted Answer

A shallow groove on the surface of the cerebral cortex is called a sulcus, while a deeper groove is referred to as a fissure.

Quiz 13: The Central Nervous System

Neural centers that control heart rate, respiration, and blood pressure are located in the

Which of the following is not a midbrain structure?

The hypothalamus, in addition to the cerebral cortex, is in control of emotional responses.

Two parts of the brain that are most involved in emotions are the

The vasomotor center of the medulla regulates blood pressure.

The brain stem consists of the

All of the following can lead to hydrocephalus except

After someone faints, smelling salts of ammonia may be placed under the personʹs nose. The person breathes the ammonia vapors, which deliver a sharp jolt to the nasal membranes, and the person wakes up. This illustrates

The only one of the meninges that follows the brain surface into a cerebral sulcus is the

The pituitary gland (hypophysis) is connected to the hypothalamus and receives regulatory impulses that control the secretion of hormones.

In the olivary nuclei in the medulla, mostly proprioceptive sensory impulses are relayed to the cerebellum.

Which areas of the brain are most likely to process and store motor skill memories?

The main visceral control center of the brain is the

Which of the following is not part of the basal ganglia?

Sleep-wake cycles are controlled by the pineal gland and the

If the most caudal part of the CNS is the conus medullaris, then the most rostral part is/are the

Which of the following grooves separates the cerebrum from the cerebellum?

A cerebrovascular accident patient who is unable to recognize faces and objects but can still visually perceive spatial arrangement of objects most likely has damage to

The ventral portion of the cerebral peduncles connects the midbrain to the cerebellum and contains the pyramidal (corticospinal) motor tracts descending to the spinal cord.

A shallow groove on the surface of the cerebral cortex is called a