Question 1

Which area of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing conscious awareness of somatic sensation such as touch, pressure, and proprioception?

Accepted Answer

Primary somatosensory cortex

Question 2

A patient suffers a lesion in the postcentral gyrus. Which function is most likely to be impaired?

Accepted Answer

Processing of somatic sensory information

Question 3

Which pathway is responsible for transmitting discriminative touch and vibration from the upper body to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Cuneatus fasciculus (part of the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway)

Question 4

What is the correct order of neurons in the ascending pathway for discriminative touch from the skin to the primary somatosensory cortex?

Accepted Answer

First order neuron → Second order neuron → Third order neuron

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the function of the thalamus in the somatosensory pathway?

Accepted Answer

It acts as a relay station for sensory information to the cortex.

Question 6

A person touches a hot stove and immediately withdraws their hand. Which pathway is primarily responsible for transmitting the pain and temperature sensation?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic pathway

Question 7

Which division of the nervous system is responsible for conducting impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles?

Accepted Answer

Somatic motor division

Question 8

If the second order neuron in the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway is damaged, which of the following is most likely to occur?

Accepted Answer

Impaired discriminative touch and vibration sensation

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the role of the spinocerebellar tracts?

Accepted Answer

Transmit proprioceptive information to the cerebellum for coordination

Question 10

A patient has difficulty distinguishing between two points of touch on their hand. Which pathway is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway

Question 11

Which lobe of the brain contains the primary somatosensory cortex?

Accepted Answer

Parietal lobe

Question 12

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the somatotopic organization of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Accepted Answer

Regions with greater sensory input have larger cortical representation.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the function of the autonomic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Conducts impulses to cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and glands for involuntary control

Question 14

Which neuron in the ascending pathway for discriminative touch synapses in the thalamus?

Accepted Answer

Second order neuron

Question 15

A patient with a lesion in the medial lemniscus would most likely experience which of the following symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Loss of proprioception and fine touch

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the pathway for proprioceptive information from the lower body to the cerebellum?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal spinocerebellar tract

Question 17

Which of the following is a function of the somatosensory association cortex?

Accepted Answer

Integrates sensory input to produce understanding of an object being felt

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the role of the first order neuron in the somatic sensory pathway?

Accepted Answer

Receives sensory input from receptors and transmits it to the CNS

Question 19

Which pathway would be primarily responsible for transmitting crude touch and pressure sensations?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic pathway

Question 20

A patient presents with loss of discriminative touch and vibration sensation on the right side of the body. Damage to which structure is most likely responsible?

Accepted Answer

Left primary somatosensory cortex

General Sensation Pathways: From Skin to Brain

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards