Check the one best correct answer. After completing the test, click the "check quiz" button. The correct answers will be highlighted in green, your answers will remain checked, and a score will be given at the bottom. (Note to Internet Explorer users. You may receive a message stating that IE  has blocked an Active X control. Before taking the quiz, click the "Allow Blocked Content" item on the message to enable the check quiz function.) After taking the test, click the link at the bottom to see page references.

---

1. Important tracts in the lateral funiculus (white column) of the spinal cord include:
   a. the anterior corticospinal tract
   b. the spinothalamic tract
   c.  the fasciculus gracilis
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. only a and c are correct
    
2. The fasciculus gracilis:
   a. is an uncrossed, ascending (sensory) tract
   b. is located in the posterior funiculus (white column) of the spinal cord
   c.  carries information concerning discriminative touch, vibration, and joint position sense (conscious proprioception) from primarily the lower limb (actually, below T6)
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. only a and c are correct



3. The substantia gelatinosa:
   a. is a nucleus in the anterior horn of the spinal cord
   b. is present throughout the spinal cord
   c.  consists of neuron cell bodies whose axons contribute directly to the spinothalamic tract
   d. contains preganglionic sympathetic neuron cell bodies
   e. all of the above are correct



4. The spinothalamic tract:
   a. is a crossed, ascending (sensory) tract
   b. is located in the posterior funiculus (white column) of the spinal cord
   c.  carries information concerning pain and temperature sensation
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. only a and c are correct



5. The thoracic nucleus:
   a. is a nucleus of the posterior horn of the spinal cord
   b. is present only from T1 to L3 in the spinal cord
   c.  is an important spinal cord center for the modulation and integration of pain sensation
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. only a and c are correct



6. Six months prior to admission, a patient sustained a complete hemisection of the T3 spinal cord on the left.  Which of the following findings are consistent with that lesion?
   a. weakness and increased muscle tone (spasticity) of the right lower limb
   b. impaired joint position sense (conscious proprioception) in the right great toe
   c.  impaired pain perception on the left side of the body from just below the nipple down to the toes
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. none of the above are correct



7. Which of the following spinal cord tracts (or fasciculi) are somatotopically organized such that information concerning the lower limbs is medial to information concerning the upper limbs?
   a. the lateral corticospinal tract
   b. the posterior column pathways (fasciculi cuneatus and gracilis)
   c.  the spinothalamic tract
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. only a and c are correct 



8. Structures found in the pons include:
   a. substantia nigra
   b. inferior olivary nucleus
   c.  crus cerebri
   d. all of the above are correct
   e. none of the above are correct



9. Which structure(s) is (are) found in the upper medulla?
   a. pyramidal tract
   b. cerebral aqueduct
   c.   inferior olivary nucleus
   d. central canal
   e. only a and c are correct



10. A collection of nerve fibers (axons) within the central nervous system can be called a:
    a. fasciculus
    b. tract
    c.   lemniscus
    d. all of the above are correct
    e. only a and c are correct



11. Important structures present in the midbrain include:
    a. motor nucleus of the trigeminal nerve (V)
    b. substantia nigra
    c.  fourth ventricle
    d. all of the above are correct
    e. only a and c are correct



12. A patient presents with horizontal (side-by-side) diplopia on right lateral gaze.  Examination reveals an inability to abduct the right eye and a ptosis and miosis involving the right eye.  What is the most likely cause of these signs and symptoms?
    a. a pontine glioma involving the lower third of the pons on the right
    b. tuberculous meningitis
    c.   a vestibular neuronoma in the right cerebellopontine angle (CPA)
    d. an internal carotid artery aneurysm in the right cavernous sinus
    e. a fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery



13. Which of the following muscles are NOT supplied by the facial nerve (VII)?
    a. buccinator muscle
    b. obicularis oculi muscle
    c.  stapedius muscle
    d. posterior belly of the digastric muscle
    e. geniohyoid muscle


14. The vagus nerve (X) is related to which of the following brain stem nuclei?
    a. dorsal (motor) nucleus of X – preganglionic parasympathetic (GVE) neuron cell bodies
    b. spinal nucleus of V – first-order GSA axons from the external ear synapse here
    c.  nucleus of the solitary tract (tractus solitarius) – first-order GVA axons (from viscera of the chest and abdomen) and SVA-taste axons (from the epiglottis) synapse here
    d.  nucleus ambiguus – SVE neuron cell bodies whose axons supply striated muscles of the pharynx, larynx, soft palate, and upper esophagus
    e. all of the above are correct
    f.  only a and c are correct
    g. only b and d are correct



15. The trochlear nerve (IV):  
    a. emerges from the lower midbrain posteriorly just below the inferior colliculus
    b. is the only cranial nerve to cross the midline before exiting the brain stem
    c.  enters the orbit through the superior orbital fissure
    d. supplies the lateral rectus muscle
    e. all of the above are correct
    f.     only a, b, and c are correct
    



16. Palatal myoclonus (or oculopalatal tremor) can be caused by a lesion involving which of the following structures?
    a. red nucleus
    b. central tegmental tract
    c.   dentate nucleus of the cerebellum
    d.  inferior olivary nucleus
    e. all of the above are correct
    f.  none of the above are correct



17. Structures involved in ascending auditory pathways include
    a. second-order SSA neuron cell bodies in the dorsal (posterior) and ventral (anterior) cochlear nuclei in the upper medulla
    b. lateral lemniscus (which contains 2nd-order, 3rd-order, and even 4th-order SSA axons) from its level of origin (inferior pons) to its termination in the superior colliculus of the upper midbrain
    c. superior olivary nucleus, nucleus of the trapezoid body, and nucleus of the lateral lemniscus
    d. lateral geniculate body of the thalamus
    e. all of the above are correct
    f.  only a and c are correct
    g. only b and d are correct



18. Signs and symptoms of the lateral inferior pontine syndrome (due to infarction in the territory of anterior inferior cerebellar artery [AICA] brain stem branches) might include:
    a. ipsilateral hearing loss and vertigo (especially if the labyrinthine artery originates from AICA)
    b. ipsilateral hypalgesia of the face
    c.  ipsilateral Horner’s syndrome
    d. contralateral hypalgesia of the body
    e. all of the above are correct
    


19. The posterolateral (thalamogeniculate) group of central (or perforating) arteries:
    a. supplies the posterior, lateral, and superior regions of the thalamus and the choroid plexus of the third and lateral ventricles
    b. includes the “posterior choroidal” arteries
    c.  arises from the more lateral parts of the posterior cerebral arteries
    d. all of the above are correct
    e. only a and c are correct


20. Arteries that supply the internal capsule include
    a. the anterior choroidal artery (inferior portion of the posterior limb)
    b. the recurrent artery (Heubner), a branch of the anterior cerebral artery (anterior part of the anterior limb)
    c.  anterolateral (lenticulostriate) group of central branches of the middle cerebral artery (anterior limb, genu, and [superior portion of the] posterior limb)
    d. posterolateral (thalamogeniculate) group of central branches of the posterior cerebral artery (retrolenticular part)
    e. all of the above are correct


Extended Matching Set - For each of the 6 questions below, indicate the letter of the most closely related item from the list. Each option may be correct for more than one question.


21. Occlusion of this artery would result in numbness and weakness of only the contralateral lower limb.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e. Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery


22. Arterial supply to the anterior horn and lateral funiculus of the spinal cord.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e. Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery


23. Arterial supply to parts of the medulla and cerebellum.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e. Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery


24. Arterial supply to the basal (anterior) part of the pons.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e. Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery


25. Closely related to cranial nerves III, IV, V, and VI.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e.  Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery


26. Arterial supply to part of the optic tract.
    a. Posterior inferior cerebellar artery
    b. Anterior choroidal artery
    c. Great cerebral vein
    d. Long circumferential branches of basilar artery
    e. Anterior spinal artery
    f.  Anterior cerebral artery
    g. Posterior cerebral artery
    h. Paramedian branches of the basilar artery
    i.  Cavernous sinus
    j.  Cortical branches of the middle cerebral artery




---




Click here after test for page references.