Exam 1

Question 1

During embryological development, six hillocks of tissue form around both sides of the first brachial groove. What do these hillocks eventually become?

Answer 1

The pinna of the external ear

Question 2

During embryological development of the central nervous system, which secondary vesicle of the neural tube becomes the pons, cerebellum, and a portion of the fourth ventricle?

Answer 2

Metencephalon

Question 2

What is the anterolateral (spinothalamic) pathway?

Answer 2

It is a sensory pathway for pain, temperature, and crude touch. It enters through the dorsal roots as Lissauer’s tract and with axons ascending in the anterior-lateral white matter of the spinal cord

Question 3

What is CN II

Answer 3

Optic - special sensory nerve for vision

Question 4

What is CN V

Answer 4

Trigeminal - sensory information from the face and motor innervation for mastication and the tensor tympani

Question 5

What is CN VI

Answer 5

Abducens - motor control of the lateral rectus eye muscle

Question 6

What is CN VII

Answer 6

Facial - sensory information from tongue through the chorda tympani and motor control for facial expressions and stapedius muscle

Question 7

What is CN XI

Answer 7

Accessory - Spinal accessory motor control of sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscle

Question 8

What is CN XII

Answer 8

Hypoglossal - motor for intrinsic and extrinsic muscles of the tongue

Question 9

What is meant by the term branchiometric nerves?

Answer 9

Cranial nerves that innervate brachial arch musculature such as CN V, VII, IX, X and XI

Question 10

Which branchial arches play a major role in development of ear (audiovestibular system) structures?

Answer 10

Branchial arches 1 and 2

Question 11

The cerebellum is connected to the main body of the pons by 3 pairs of fiber tracts known as the what?

Answer 11

cerebellar peduncles

Question 12

The outer 2-4 mm of the cerebral cortex is made up of gray matter that has been divided into horizontal layers based on the cells and functions. How many layers are there?

Answer 12

Six layers with layer 1 as the most superficial and layer 6 the deepest layer

Question 13

What is the purpose of the Circle of Willis and what arteries create the “circle”?

Answer 13

Since the CNS is supplied by the vertebrobasilar and internal carotid vasculature and the posterior communicating arteries and single anterior communicating artery form the “circle” of Willis, there is a safety valve for blood supply. When there is a slow occlusion of an artery like one of the carotids, the communicating arteries which normally do not carry much blood can compensate for the low blood supply on one side by shunting blood from the good side to the side of the brainstem and brain that is not getting enough blood. This will not work for a rapid occlusion but can be very effective for a slow occlusion.

Question 14

Which type of degeneration involves the distal portion of the axon that has been severed from the cell body and leaves Schwann tubes that may aid in regeneration?

Answer 14

Orthograde degeneration

Question 15

Which of the following pathways projects primarily from the primary motor cortex, decussating in the pyramids of the medulla, travelling to the lateral white columns in the spinal cord to the ventral gray horn and then innervating muscles to provide the main control of voluntary skilled movement?

Answer 15

Corticospinal tract

Question 16

Which of the following pathways projects from the medial and lateral vestibular nuclei to the spinal cord to act upon interneurons and motor neurons to control antigravity muscles for postural control?

Answer 16

Vestibulospinal tract

Question 17

What is contained in the dorsal root ganglia?

Answer 17

Cell bodies for the pseudounipolar sensory axons of the spinal nerves

Question 18

Which answer best describes the fasciculus gracilis?

Answer 18

The FG carries somatosensory information including touch and proprioception from the lower extremities to the medulla as a part of the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway

Question 19

Intensity of a stimulus is represented by frequency modulation (rate of firing) for what type of potential?

Answer 19

Action potential

Question 20

Embryologically, the central nervous system, sense organs such as the cochlear and vestibular hair cells, and the skin are derived from which of the germ layers?

Answer 20

Ectoderm

Question 20

What is the generic term that describes defects of the spinal cord, during embryological development when the caudal neuropore does not properly close?

Answer 20

Spina bifida

Question 21

With respect to neuroembryology, the term gastrulation refers to what?

Answer 21

Formation of the three primary germ layers

Question 22

During embryologic development, which germ layer gives rise to the skeletal structures, circulation structures, meninges, and cartilage (including the ossicles and temporal bone)?

Answer 22

Mesoderm

Question 23

Embryologically, development of the inner ear begins with formation of what?

Answer 23

The otic placodes which are thickening of the ectoderm

Question 24

Embryologically, what structures are derived from the neural tube and its tissue?

Answer 24

Ventral nervous system structures including structures such as the cerebrum, brainstem, cerebellum, ventricles and spinal cord

Question 25

Which classification of the nerve fibers have the slowest conduction velocity and are unmyelinated?

Answer 25

Group IV

Question 26

The binding of a neurotransmitter to a receptor site on a neuron and depolarization of the post-synaptic cell membrane due to changes in the membrane permeability is an example of which of the following?

Answer 26

Activation of ligand-gated ion channels and excitation of the post-synaptic cell

Question 27

The two vertebral arteries merge near the pontomedullary junction to form what artery?

Answer 27

The basilar artery

Question 27

Describe Parkinson's disease

Answer 27

Damage/abnormal function in the substantia nigra resulting in movement dysfunction, resting tremor, rigidity, and cognitive changes

Question 27

Which motor pathway carries information from the reticular formation of the pons and medulla to all levels of the spinal cord to influence muscle tone in the lower extremities?

Answer 27

Reticulospinal tract

Question 27

Where is Rexed's lamina I in the spinal cord located?

Answer 27

In the initial portion of the dorsal gray horns (the most dorsal layer)

Question 27

What is Scarpa's ganglia?

Answer 27

The cell bodies of the bipolar afferent vestibular CN VIII fibers located in the internal auditory canal

Question 27

Be able to label the Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscus Pathway from a photo of the pathway. Describe the DC-ML pathway.

Answer 27

Carries ascending/afferent sensory information regarding touch and proprioception from the body to he cortex

Question 27

Some vestibular information being carried by CN VIII and coming from the vestibular nuclei is carried to the cerebellum. Which statement best describes the route and location in the cerebellum where vestibular information is processed?

Answer 27

Nerve fibers carrying vestibular information reach the cerebellum via the juxtarestiform body of the inferior cerebellar peduncle and the information is processed primarily in the flocculonodular lobe.

Question 28

A reduction in blood flow can be caused by a local, attached clot in a blood vessel by an atherosclerotic plaque. What is this vascular abnormality called?

Answer 28

Thrombus

Question 29

Which artery supplies blood to the area of the superior temporal gyrus and lateral fissure, including the area of the primary cortex?

Answer 29

Middle cerebral artery

Question 29

Why are hereditary metabolic defects such as Tay-Sachs disease and Niemann-Pick Disease so devastating and difficulty to treat?

Answer 29

The diseases involve enzyme deficiencies at the cellular level and it is difficult to treat or repair defects in cells so the diseases tend to be progressive and life-threatening over time (shortening lifespan).

Question 29

During embryological development, what does the tubotympanic recess eventually become?

Answer 29

The middle ear cavity and the eustachian tube

Question 30

Which reflex refers to the response when an infant is startled and then throws out their arms and legs and begins to cry?

Answer 30

Moro reflex

Question 31

Describe the location of the primary auditory cortex (A1)

Answer 31

A1 is located on the transverse gyri of the superior temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe, inside the lateral fissure.

Question 32

In the embryo, which flexure of the developing neural tube marks the location where the future brainstem meets the future spinal cord, and this bend straightens out over time during development?

Answer 32

Cervical flexure

Question 33

List functions or expected actions from infants that can be used as indicators of possible abnormalities if the infant is not performing these functions

Answer 33

Sucking, rooting, regulating temperature, swallowing, muscle tone and movement, sleeping, peeing and pooping regularly

Question 34

Be able to describe the path of the medial lemniscus in the sensory pathway given an image.

Answer 34

Axons of the second order neurons leaving the nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus in the medulla, crossing midline and then ascending to the thalamus

Question 35

Once a nerve reaches its threshold to fire an action potential, what is the first step in a change in membrane permeability along the axon to begin the propagation of the bioelectrical change that is the action potential?

Answer 35

The opening of voltage-gated ion channels allowing an influx (inward flow) of Na+ to rapidly depolarize the neuron at the axon hillock

Question 36

What term best describes the brief time period after the peak of an action potential during which another action potential cannot be generated no matter how much the cell membrane is depolarized?

Answer 36

Absolute refractory period

Question 37

Describe the resting membrane potential of a neuron

Answer 37

The inside of the cell is about -70 millivolts compared to the extracellular fluid due to high concentration of sodium outside of the cell and a high concentration of potassium inside the cell

Question 38

According to the House-Brackmann Facial Paralysis Scale, what does Grade I refer to vs Grade VI?

Answer 38

Grade I is normal function and Grade VI is total paralysis

Question 39

If there is a patient with Bell's Palsy, which test might an audiologist use to help in diagnosis and assessment of recovery from palsy?

Answer 39

Acoustic reflex testing

Question 39

T/F: There is no somatotopic mapping of body parts/areas in the pathway of the spinal cord because somatotopic mapping only begins in the primary motor and primary somatosensory cortices in the cerebrum.

Answer 39

False

Question 39

What is located directly beneath the arachnoid mater?

Answer 39

Subarachnoid space filled with cerebrospinal fluid

Question 40

The blood-brain barrier includes which of the following?

Answer 40

The tight junctions in the endothelial cells that line the capillaries of the central nervous system which prevent most macromolecules form entering or leaving the central nervous system

Question 41

Following a skull fracture and the tearing of meningeal arteries, there may be bleeding between skull bones and the dura that can be fatal unless treated. This is known as what?

Answer 41

epidural hematoma

Question 41

Briefly describe the production, flow, and absorption of CSF.

Answer 41

Produced by the choroid plexus in the ventricles, flows from lateral ventricle through interventricular foramina to third ventricle and then to the fourth ventricle through the cerebral aqueduct. It exits the fourth ventricle through the foramina of Luschka and foramen of Magendie to the subarachnoid space to be absorbed by arachnoid villi into the superior sagittal sinus and then exiting through the jugular veins.

Question 41

What is the specific name of the condition caused when there is a build-up of CSF within the subarachnoid space due to the lack of absorption of the CSF by the arachnoid villi, after the CSF has exited the ventricles and is flowing in the subarachnoid space?

Answer 41

Communicating hydrocephalus

Question 42

What type of cells form myelin on the axons in the central nervous system?

Answer 42

Oligodendrocytes

Question 43

The ability to sense the position of one's limbs is known as what?

Answer 43

Proprioception

Question 44

Briefly describe some functions of the integumentary system.

Answer 44

Protection from invasion, protect from UV, heat control, sensory reception, vitamin D production, excretion (sweat).

Question 45

Which glands of the skin release sodium chloride, urea, uric acid and other substances out through the skin and also help with heat regulation to cool the body?

Answer 45

Sweat glands

Question 46

What is the largest bundle of axon that serves as the main interhemispheric connection between the right and the left hemisphere?

Answer 46

Corpus Callosum

Question 47

What type of proprioceptors detect/measure muscle tension?

Answer 47

Golgi tendon organs

Question 48

Separations in the layers of the dura form cavities which are part of the drainage system of the brain and are known as what?

Answer 48

Venous sinuses

Question 49

Which layer of the skin mainly contains adipose (fat) tissue?

Answer 49

Hypodermis/subcutaneous

Question 50

Give a brief description of embryologic development for the inner ear.

Answer 50

The development of the inner ear begins with the thickening of the ectoderm which develops into otic placodes which then turs into otic pits. The otic pits develop into cysts and split into cochlear and vestibular portions. The cochlea will begin to coil. The cochlear and vestibular labyrinth is cartilaginous and then ossifies throughout development, with SCC developing before the cochlea. The statoacoustic ganglion begin to form and eventually develop into CN VIII.

Question 51

Describe the formation and function of myelin.

Answer 51

Myelin is a lipid tissue produced by specialized glial cells which wrap around neuronal axons in segments to insulate the neuron and increase transmission speed of neural signals.

Question 52

What term does not refer to a collection/bundle of axons in he central nervous system?

Answer 52

Ganglia

Question 53

What structures are considered a part of the limbic system?

Answer 53

Cingulate gyrus, amygdala, hippocampus

Question 54

With a lesion impacting the lower motor neuron portion of a pathway, which type of symptoms are you likely to see?

Answer 54

Symptoms that are ipsilateral to the location of the lesion

Question 55

Which monosynaptic reflex is the result of a quick stretching of a muscle spindle that goes to the spinal cord and then activates the motor neurons of that muscle to contract, making the muscle jerk or "kick"?

Answer 55

Stretch Reflex (aka Deep Tendon Reflex)

Question 56

T/F: Regeneration of neurons can be successful in the peripheral nervous system due to the arrangement/spacing of fibers and facilitating factors such as guiding Schwann tubes and the growing neuron sprouts being attracted to a high number of acetylcholine receptors.

Answer 56

True

Question 57

Which dermatome innervates the area of the umbilical cord/belly button.

Answer 57

T10