Question 1

Which of the following best describes the difference between gray matter and white matter in the brain and spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Gray matter contains neuron cell bodies and is superficial in the brain, while white matter consists of myelinated axons and is deep in the brain.

Question 2

A patient presents with loss of fine motor control and difficulty initiating voluntary movement. Which brain structure is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Basal nuclei (basal ganglia)

Question 3

Which equation correctly represents the calculation of resting membrane potential using the Nernst equation for potassium ions?

Accepted Answer

$E_K = \frac{RT}{zF} \ln \left( \frac{[K^+]_{out}}{[K^+]_{in}} \right)$

Question 4

During an action potential, which event occurs immediately after the membrane potential reaches threshold?

Accepted Answer

Voltage-gated Na$^+$ channels open, causing rapid depolarization.

Question 5

Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 6

A patient with spina bifida has a neural tube defect. Which embryonic structure failed to close properly?

Accepted Answer

Neural tube

Question 7

Which cranial nerve is responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Optic nerve (CNII)

Question 8

Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is primarily responsible for processing somatosensory information?

Accepted Answer

Parietal lobe

Question 9

Which structure connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres, allowing communication between them?

Accepted Answer

Corpus callosum

Question 10

Which equation best represents the summation of graded potentials at the axon hillock?

Accepted Answer

$V_{total} = \sum_{i=1}^{n} V_i$

Question 11

Which of the following best explains the role of the limbic system in the brain?

Accepted Answer

It is involved in emotion and memory formation.

Question 12

A patient is unable to smell after a head injury. Which cranial nerve is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Olfactory nerve (CNI)

Question 13

Which of the following best describes the pathway of a simple reflex arc?

Accepted Answer

Sensory neuron → interneuron → motor neuron

Question 14

Which gland secretes melatonin and what is its primary function?

Accepted Answer

Pineal gland; regulates sleep-wake cycles

Question 15

Which of the following arteries is NOT a contributor to the Circle of Willis?

Accepted Answer

External carotid artery

Question 16

Which statement best describes the sensory homunculus?

Accepted Answer

It represents the cortical area devoted to sensory input from various body regions.

Question 17

Which of the following is TRUE regarding excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters?

Accepted Answer

Excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, increase the likelihood of an action potential, while inhibitory neurotransmitters, such as GABA, decrease it.

Question 18

Which structure relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex and is located near the third ventricle?

Accepted Answer

Thalamus

Question 19

Which of the following best explains how voluntary movement is initiated in the brain?

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex generates action potentials that travel down the spinal cord to motor neurons.

Question 20

Which equation represents the relationship between cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and intracranial pressure (ICP)?

Accepted Answer

$CPP = MAP - ICP$

Study Guide: Nervous System, Brain Structures, and Sensory Mapping

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards