$$\text{Effective brain weight} = \text{Actual brain weight} \times 0.03$$

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a function of the meninges?

Accepted Answer

Produce action potentials for neural communication

Question 2

A patient presents with swelling of the brain after a traumatic head injury. Which condition is most likely responsible for this symptom?

Accepted Answer

Cerebral edema

Question 3

Which layer of the meninges is described as the strongest and acts to limit excessive movement of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Question 4

Hydrocephalus in newborns leads to skull enlargement because:

Accepted Answer

The skull bones are unfused, allowing expansion

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the function of the blood brain barrier?

Accepted Answer

It prevents chemical variations that could lead to uncontrollable neuron firings

Question 6

A patient is unable to move their knee consciously, but the knee jerk reflex is still active. What type of spinal cord injury does this suggest?

Accepted Answer

Spastic paralysis due to upper motor neuron injury

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE regarding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?

Accepted Answer

CSF is produced by the choroid plexus and filtered at a constant rate

Question 8

Which equation best represents the percentage reduction in brain weight due to CSF buoyancy?

Accepted Answer

$$	ext{Effective brain weight} = 	ext{Actual brain weight} 	imes 0.03$$

Question 9

Which of the following is a key difference between flaccid and spastic paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Flaccid paralysis results in muscle atrophy due to lack of impulses, while spastic paralysis involves reflex activity without voluntary control

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the organization of gray matter in the spinal cord is correct?

Accepted Answer

The lateral horns are present in thoracic and upper lumbar regions

Question 11

Which pathway transmits discriminative touch and vibration to the somatosensory cortex?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway

Question 12

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Alzheimer's disease?

Accepted Answer

Accumulation of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles

Question 13

Which diagnostic procedure uses X-rays with dye to pinpoint stroke-causing clots?

Accepted Answer

Cerebral angiography

Question 14

Which of the following statements about the blood brain barrier is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

It allows all substances to pass freely into the brain

Question 15

Which spinal cord tract is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Question 16

A patient with Huntington's disease is most likely to exhibit which of the following symptoms in the early stages?

Accepted Answer

Wild, jerky 'flapping' movements

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the relay system in ascending sensory pathways?

Accepted Answer

A chain of two or three neurons transmits impulses from receptors to the cortex

Question 18

Which equation best represents the relationship between CSF pressure and hydrocephalus?

Accepted Answer

$$P_{CSF} = \frac{V_{CSF}}{C_{drainage}}$$

Question 19

Which of the following is a function of the choroid plexus?

Accepted Answer

It produces the majority of the cerebrospinal fluid

Question 20

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the spinal cord's white matter?

Accepted Answer

It contains myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers that run in ascending, descending, and transverse directions

Central Nervous System: Structure, Protection, Disorders, and Pathways

Study Guide - Practice Questions