Exam II

Question 1

what is the function of the PCML / DCML?

Answer 1

somatosensory pathway: vibration, proprioception, light touch

Question 2

where is the origin and termination of the PCML / DCML?

Answer 2

(1) origin: dorsal root ganglion (synapse at nucleus gracilis / cuneatus
(2) termination: VPL / Somatosensory cortex

Question 3

where does decussation of the PCML / DCML occur?

Answer 3

internal arcuate fibers (cauda medulla)

Question 4

what is the function of the Lateral Spinothalamic tract?

Answer 4

somatosensory tract: pain, temperature, crude touch, itch, tickle, and some visceral sensations

Question 5

where is the origin and termination of the Lateral Spinothalamic tract?

Answer 5

(1) origin: immediate synapse in gray matter of the spinal cord
(2) termination:
- A-pain: VPL to somatosensory cortex
- C-pain: intralaminar and mediodorsal nuclei to limbic and somatosensory cortex

Question 6

where does decussation of the Lateral Spinothalamic tract occur?

Answer 6

anterior commissure (spinal cord)

Question 7

what are the 2 lateral motor tracts?

Answer 7

(1) Lateral Corticospinal tract

(2) Rubrospinal tract

Question 8

what are the 4 medial motor tracts?

Answer 8

(1) Anterior Corticospinal tract
(2) Vestibulospinal tracts
(3) Reticulospinal tracts
(4) Tectospinal tract

Question 9

what is the function of the Lateral Corticospinal tract?

Answer 9

movement of the contralateral limb (voluntary, fine, skilled movements)

Question 10

where is the origin and termination of the Lateral Corticospinal tract?

Answer 10

(1) origin: primary motor cortex

(2) termination: entire cord

Question 11

where does decussation of the Lateral Corticospinal tract occur?

Answer 11

pyramidal decussation (cervicomedullary junction)

Question 12

what is the function of the Rubrospinal tract?

Answer 12

movement of contralateral limb? (not fully understood in humans)

Question 13

where is the origin and termination of the Rubrospinal tract?

Answer 13

(1) origin: red nucleus, magnocellular (midbrain)

(2) termination: cervical cord

Question 14

where does decussation of the Rubrospinal tract occur?

Answer 14

ventral tegmental decussation (midbrain)

Question 15

what is the function of the Anterior Corticospinal tract?

Answer 15

control of bilateral axial / girdle movements; postural control of head and neck (proximal muscles, neck, trunk)

Question 16

where is the origin and termination of the Anterior Corticospinal tract?

Answer 16

(1) origin: primary motor and supplementary motor cortex

(2) termination: cervical and upper thoracic cord

Question 17

where does decussation of the Anterior Corticospinal tract occur?

Answer 17

DOESN’T DECUSSATE

Question 18

what is the function of the LATERAL Vestibulospinal tract?

Answer 18

balance for whole body

Question 19

where is the origin and termination of the LATERAL Vestibulospinal tract?

Answer 19

(1) origin: lateral vestibular nucleus (Pons)

(2) termination: entire cord

Question 20

what is the function of the MEDIAL Vestibulospinal tract?

Answer 20

maintains head and neck tone

Question 21

where is the origin and termination of the MEDIAL Vestibulospinal tract?

Answer 21

(1) origin: medial (and inferior) vestibular nucleus (medulla)
(2) termination: C/S and T/S cord

Question 22

what is the function of the PONTINE & MEDULLARY reticulospinal tracts?

Answer 22

posture and gait

Question 23

where is the origin and termination of the PONTINE reticulospinal tract?

Answer 23

(1) origin: pontine reticular formation

(2) termination: entire cord

Question 24

where is the origin and termination of the MEDULLARY reticulospinal tract?

Answer 24

(1) origin: medullar recticular formation

(2) termination: entire cord

Question 25

what is the function of the tectospinal tract?

Answer 25

head and eye movement

Question 26

where is the origin and termination of the tectospinal tract?

Answer 26

(1) origin: superior colliculus (midbrain) | (2) termination: cervical cord

Question 27

where does decussation of the tectospinal tract occur?

Answer 27

dorsal tegmental decussation (midbrain)

Question 28

what are separations of the dura membranes important for?

Answer 28

create sinuses; important to venous drainage

Question 29

what structure can be damaged by the falx cerebri?

Answer 29

corpus callosum

Question 30

what can be damaged by the tentorium cerebrelli?

Answer 30

midbrain, brainstem, occulomotor nerve

Question 31

what artery is in the epidural space?

Answer 31

middle meningeal artery

Question 32

what commonly causes rupture of the middle meningeal artery?

Answer 32

fracture of the temporal bone

Question 33

what does the subdural space contain?

Answer 33

bridging veins

Question 34

what can rupture of the bridging vein cause?

Answer 34

subdural hematoma

Question 35

what does the subarachnoid space contain?

Answer 35

CSF and major arteries of the brain

Question 36

what makes up the choroid plexus? what is the function of the choroid plexus?

Answer 36

(1) ependymal cells | (2) produces CSF

Question 37

how does CSF exit and create a pressure gradient?

Answer 37

arachnoid granulations

Question 38

the fasciculus gracilis carries what type of information? where is it located in the brain?

Answer 38

LE infromation; medial

Question 39

the fasciculus cuneatus carries what type of information? where is it located in the brain?

Answer 39

UE information; lateral

Question 40

what is the difference between Spinothalamic, Spinoreticular, Spinomesencephalic pathways?

Answer 40

(1) Spinothalamic: identifying noxious stimuli (stepping on something sharp) (2) Spinoreticular: adds the emotional component (ouch, that hurts!) (3) Spinomesencephalic: Pain modulation (that feels better!)

Question 41

what is the function of A-alpha (I) receptors? what pathway uses these fibers?

Answer 41

(1) proprioception (muscle spindle and GTO) PATHWAY Spinocerebellar

Question 42

what is the function of A-beta (II) receptors? what pathway uses these fibers?

Answer 42

(1) proprioception (muscle spindle) (2) light touch (Meissner's corpuscle) (3) 2-point discrimination (Merkel's receptors) (4) vibration (Pacinian corpuscle) (5) vibration (Ruffini ending) (6) light touch / vibration (hair receptors) PATHWAY PCML

Question 43

what is the function of A-delta (III) receptors? what pathway uses these fibers?

Answer 43

(1) acute pain (2) cool temperature (3) itch PATHWAY Lateral Spinothalamic (A-pain)

Question 44

what is the function of C (IV) receptors? what pathway uses these fibers?

Answer 44

(1) chronic pain (2) warm temperature (3) touch PATHWAY Lateral Spinothalamic (C-pain)

Question 45

which fibers have the highest conduction fibers? which have the lowest?

Answer 45

Highest: Alpha-A Lowest: C

Question 46

what relay nuclei of the thalamus send information to sensory and motor areas?

Answer 46

mainly lateral thalamus, VPL, PN, LGN, MGN, interior nucleus

Question 47

what relay nuclei of the thalamus send information to association cortices?

Answer 47

non-specific (found in pulvinar and MD)

Question 48

what relay nuclei of the thalamus send information to the basal ganglia?

Answer 48

intralaminar (lie within intermedullar lamina)

Question 49

what relay nuclei of the thalamus do not project into the cortex and deal with communication within the thalamus?

Answer 49

reticular nuclei (thin sheet lateral to thalamus and medial to internal capsule)

Question 50

A lesion above the medulla will prevent what sided deficits for the DCML tract?

Answer 50

-Contralateral

Question 51

A lesion in the lower medulla will present what sided deficits for the DCML Tract?

Answer 51

-Ipsilateral

Question 52

A lesion at the brainstem will cause what sided symptoms of the anterolateral spinal thalamic tract?

Answer 52

-Contralateral

Question 53

Polyneuropathy is associated with what disease?

Answer 53

-Diabetes; "sock and glove" syndrome

Question 54

A spinal nerve lesion will follow what pattern?

Answer 54

-Dermatome/Myotome

Question 55

Posterior cord damage will affect what ascending tract?

Answer 55

-DCML

Question 56

Anterior Spinal Cord damage will affect what tract?

Answer 56

-ALS Tract

Question 57

A narrow central cord lesion will affect what ascending tract?

Answer 57

-ALS Tract; cannot deccusate either way, bilateral loss caudal to lesion

Question 58

Why is there more white matter in the cervical segments?

Answer 58

-They house all tracts

Question 59

What is associated with a lower motor neuron lesion?

Answer 59

-Atrophy, decreased tone, twitching, decreased reflexes

Question 60

What is associated with a upper motor neuron lesion?

Answer 60

-increased tone, increased relfexes

Question 61

A left MCA superior division infarct will cause what type of aphasia?

Answer 61

-Brocas

Question 62

A left MCA inferior division infact with cause what type of aphasia?

Answer 62

-Wernickes

Question 63

How do motor deficits usually present with a left inferior division of the MCA infarct?

Answer 63

-no deficits

Question 64

What is a major deficit associated with a right MCA inferior division infarct?

Answer 64

-Left hemineglect

Question 65

A left MCA deep territory infarct will cause what type of deficit?

Answer 65

-Right hemiparesis

Question 66

Non dominant ACA strokes can cause what?

Answer 66

-Contralateral neglect

Question 67

An occlusion of the internal carotid will cause what type of infarct?

Answer 67

-ACA-MCA Watershed

Question 68

An ACA-MCA watershed infarct of the dominant hemisphere will cause what?

Answer 68

-Transcortical aphasia syndromes

Question 69

Watershed infarcts cause what type of motor deficits?

Answer 69

-Proximal arm and leg weakness (regions of the humunculus involved include trunk and proximal limb)

Question 70

What are the 4 D's of a vertebral basillar stroke?

Answer 70

-Dysarthria, dysphagia, diplopia, dizziness