Functional Neuroanatomy Questions - P. 7
181. The term "glia" comes from a Greek word that means:
- A. glue
- B. support
- C. nerve
- D. branch
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Correct answer: A
The term glia comes from a Greek word that means glue, and glial cells got this name b/c they were thought to simply hold neurons in place. We now know, however, that glia have many other functions.
182. The spinal cord leaves the skull through an opening called the:
- A. jugular foramen
- B. foramen magnum
- C. carotid canal
- D. superior orbital fissure
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Correct answer: B
The spinal cord leaves the skull through an opening called the foramen magnum and travels down the vertebral column.
183. Cerebrospinal fluid flows from the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle through the:
- A. cerebral aqueduct
- B. interventricular foramen
- C. lateral aperture
- D. central canal
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Correct answer: A
The third ventricle is connected to the fourth ventricle by the cerebral aqueduct.
184. A patient has a tumor that damages the right cerebral hemisphere. Which of the following is a possible symptom?
- A. loss of voluntary movement on the right side of the body
- B. loss of pain and temperature sensation on the right side of the body
- C. loss of tactile discrimination on the left side of the body
- D. loss of vision in the right visual field of both eyes
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Correct answer: C
Tactile discrimination is carried by the dorsal columns–medial lemniscus (DCML) pathway, which crosses to the opposite side of the brainstem before reaching the cerebral cortex. As a result, damage to the right cerebral hemisphere can impair tactile discrimination on the left side of the body.
185. The cell bodies of postganglionic neurons in the sympathetic nervous system are primarily located in which of the following?
- A. dorsal root ganglia
- B. ventral horn of the spinal cord
- C. sympathetic chain and prevertebral ganglia
- D. lateral horn of the spinal cord
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Correct answer: C
Cell bodies of postganglionic sympathetic neurons are found in the sympathetic ganglia, which are primarily located in the sympathetic chain and prevertebral ganglia.
186. Which of the following meningeal layers lies immediately below the dura mater?
- A. periosteum
- B. arachnoid mater
- C. epidural space
- D. pia mater
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Correct answer: B
The arachnoid mater is immediately below the dura mater. The arachnoid mater gets its name because it has the consistency and appearance of a cobweb. It is much less substantial than the dura. Strands of connective tissue called arachnoid trabeculae stretch between the arachnoid and pia mater.
187. Which of the following serves as the major input pathway to the hippocampal formation?
- A. fornix
- B. anterior commissure
- C. Schaffer collaterals
- D. perforant pathway
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Correct answer: D
Information enters the hippocampal formation mainly through an adjacent area called the entorhinal cortex, which serves as a primary interface between the hippocampus and much of the rest of the cerebral cortex. The major pathway from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampal formation is the perforant pathway, which carries information to the dentate gyrus and other parts of the hippocampal formation.
188. Association areas of the cerebral cortex are best described as regions that:
- A. integrate sensory, motor, and cognitive information to support complex behaviors
- B. are devoted primarily to one type of sensory information, such as vision
- C. generate reflexive motor responses without input from other brain regions
- D. relay information between the cerebral cortex and the spinal cord
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Correct answer: A
Association areas are involved in the integration of information from multiple brain regions. This integration can do things like add complexity to sensory perceptions or facilitate higher cognitive processes.
189. Which region of the substantia nigra contains a high density of GABA neurons?
- A. substantia nigra pars compacta
- B. substantia nigra pars reticulata
- C. GABA neurons are not prevalent in any part of the substantia nigra
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Correct answer: B
The substantia nigra is made up of two distinct regions: the substantia nigra pars compacta and the substantia nigra pars reticulata. The dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra are primarily found in the substantia nigra pars compacta, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata is more heavily populated with GABA neurons.
190. Which of the following sequences correctly describes the flow of information through a neuron?
- A. soma → dendrites → axon → axon terminals
- B. dendrites → axon terminals → soma → axon
- C. axon terminals → soma → dendrites → axon
- D. dendrites → soma → axon → axon terminals
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Correct answer: D
Typically, dendrites receive information from other neurons, the soma integrates those signals, and if the combined input is strong enough, an action potential is generated. The action potential then travels down the axon to the axon terminals, where it can trigger the release of neurotransmitters.
191. Which of the following structures is considered a circumventricular organ?
- A. posterior pituitary
- B. corpus callosum
- C. hippocampus
- D. thalamus
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Correct answer: A
The circumventricular organs are a group of structures that lack a typical blood-brain barrier, allowing communication between the blood and the brain. The posterior pituitary is one of these organs; its lack of a typical blood-brain barrier allows hormones such as oxytocin and vasopressin to be released directly into the bloodstream.
192. The spinal cord contains two regions that are enlarged because they contain additional neurons needed to innervate the limbs. In which regions of the spinal cord do these enlargements occur?
- A. thoracic and sacral regions
- B. cervical and thoracic regions
- C. cervical and lumbar regions
- D. lumbar and sacral regions
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Correct answer: C
There are two locations along the cord that are slightly enlarged---the cervical and lumbar enlargements---because these parts of the spinal cord contain more neurons in order to supply the limbs. The lower enlargement is often referred to as the lumbosacral enlargement because it also includes several sacral segments.
193. Satellite glial cells are found in the:
- A. central nervous system
- B. peripheral nervous system
- C. central and peripheral nervous systems
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Correct answer: B
Satellite cells surround neurons in some parts of the peripheral nervous system, playing a protective and supportive role. They are thought to help regulate the local environment around neurons and may play a role in pain signaling.
194. According to traditional models of basal ganglia function, what is the primary role of the indirect pathway?
- A. it facilitates voluntary movement
- B. it inhibits unwanted movement
- C. it increases dopamine release
- D. it directly activates the cortex
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Correct answer: B
Activity in the indirect pathway is thought to antagonize the activity of the direct pathway and act to keep unwanted movements from occurring.
195. Which of the following structures is found in the midbrain?
- A. locus coeruleus
- B. inferior olivary nucleus
- C. nucleus gracilis
- D. superior colliculus
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Correct answer: D
The superior colliculi are found in the midbrain. Along with the inferior colliculi, they form four bumps on the posterior surface of the brainstem. Among other things, the superior colliculi are thought to be involved with directing behavioral responses toward stimuli in the environment.
