Question 1
Theme A: Lower Motor Neuronal Circuits
Which of the following statements most accurately characterizes muscle spindles?
Your Answer
Muscle spindles play an important role in the maintenance of a steady level of muscle force during the
development of muscle fatigue.
Muscle spindles are innervated by alpha motor neurons.
Muscle spindles contain extrafusal muscle fibers.
Muscle spindles are present in smooth muscle, but not striated muscle.
Muscle spindles are comprised of intrafusal muscle fibers and the sensory afferents and motor
efferents that innervate them.
Total
Question 2
Theme A: Lower Motor Neuronal Circuits
Which of the following statements pertaining to the gain of the myotatic (e.g., kneejerk) reflex is most accurate?
Your Answer
The gain of the myotatic reflex is greatly elevated when the dorsal roots are sectioned.
The gain of the myotatic reflex increases when the activity of gamma motor neurons decreases.
The gain of the myotatic reflex increases when the activity of gamma motor neurons increases.
The gain of the myotatic reflex is independent of descending projections arising from integrative
centers in the brainstem, such as centers in the reticular formation.
The gain of the myotatic reflex is dependent upon the activity of afferents innervating Golgi-tendon
organs.
Total
Question 3
Theme A: Lower Motor Neuronal Circuits
In healthy muscle, each of the following factors contributes to moderate levels of muscle
tone, EXCEPT for one. Which factor below DOES NOT contribute to the maintenance of
moderate levels of muscle tone?
Your Answer
Sc
the firing of A-delta afferent fibers
the firing of alpha motor neurons
the firing of group 1a afferents
the exocytosis of acetycholine at neuromuscular junctions
✘
0.
for upper axial muscles and some facial muscles, psychological stress
Total
Question 4
Theme A: Lower Motor Neuronal Circuits
Where would you find lower motor neurons that govern the activities of muscles in the
proximal portion of the left leg? [For the purpose of this question, the left side of the image
0.
below (C-F) is the left side of the spinal cord.]
Your Answer
Score
H5
I5
✘
0.00
Explana
D5
D6
F5
Total
0.00 / 1.00
Question 5
Theme B: Upper Motor Neuronal Circuits
On their way from the primary motor cortex to the spinal cord, the axons that innervate
lower motor neurons governing the hands must pass through several prominent white
matter structures. Which of the following presents the correct sequence of this progression
(>) from cortex to cervical enlargement of the spinal cord?
Your Answer
subcortical white matter > posterior limb of internal capsule > cerebral peduncle > medullary pyramid
pyramidal decussation > contralateral (relative to origin) lateral column of spinal cord
subcortical white matter > cerebral peduncle > posterior limb of internal capsule > medullary pyramid
pyramidal decussation > ipsilateral (relative to origin) lateral column of spinal cord
subcortical white matter > cerebral peduncle > posterior limb of internal capsule > medullary pyramid
pyramidal decussation > contralateral (relative to origin) lateral column of spinal cord
subcortical white matter > posterior limb of internal capsule > cerebral peduncle > medullary pyramid
> pyramidal decussation > ipsilateral (relative to origin) anterior (ventral) column of spinal cord
subcortical white matter > posterior limb of internal capsule > cerebral peduncle > medullary pyramid
pyramidal decussation > ipsilateral (relative to origin) lateral column of spinal cord
Total
Question 6
Theme B: Upper Motor Neuronal Circuits
Which of the following neurological signs and symptoms is associated with upper motor
neuron injury several weeks following damage?
Your Answer
Score
muscle fibrillations
decreased deep reflexes
positive Babinski sign (toe fanning)
severe muscle atrophy
negative Babinski sign (toe flexion)
✘
Total
Question 7
Theme B: Upper Motor Neuronal Circuits
With regard to its spinal motor functions, the reticular formation in the brainstem is
primarily concerned with which of the following functions?
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Your Answer
Feedforward adjustments of anticipated postural instabilities.
Rapid compensatory (feedback) responses to postural instabilities detected by the vestibular labyrinth.
Fractionation of digit movements during skilled manual behaviors.
Postural adjustments mediated by direct synaptic connection onto on alpha motor neurons within the
lateral aspect of the ventral horn.
Postural adjustments mediated by descending projections within the lateral column of white matter in
the spinal cord.
Total
Question 8
Theme B: Upper Motor Neuronal Circuits
You encounter a patient that suffered a focal stroke some weeks ago, which
produced marked weakness in the lower left side of the face, theleft arm and hand, and
the left leg. You are now considering where the lesion could have occurred and you RULE
OUT a stroke involving which of the following possibilities? In other words, which of the
following stroke distributions is highly unlikely to explain these deficits?
Your Answer
deep branch of the right anterior choroidal artery affecting the entire right posterior limb of internal
capsule
deep branch of the right middle cerebral artery affecting the right, central corona radiata (subcortical
white matter near the middle of the hemisphere)
short circumferential branch of the right vertebral artery affecting the medial zone of the right medulla
proximal portion of the right posterior cerebral artery affecting the entire right cerebral peduncle
blockage of right internal carotid artery
Total
Question 9
Theme C: Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia
Which of the following structures is considered a component of the striatum?
Your Answer
Score
substantia nigra pars reticulata
globus pallidus external segment
ventral pallidum
putamen
ventral lateral/ventral anterior complex of the thalamus
✔
1.00
Total
1.00 / 1
Question 10
Theme C: Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia
An important concept in the neurophysiology of the intrinsic circuits of the basal ganglia
is “disinhibition”, which can be understood as the inhibition of inhibition. With this concept
in mind, activation of cortical input to the “direct pathway” leads to the disinhibition of which
structure?
Your Answer
Score
ventral lateral and ventral anterior divisions of the thalamus
globus pallidus internal segment
✘
0.00
putamen
motor cortex
subthalamic nucleus
Total
Question 11
Theme C: Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia
For every output circuit leaving the basal ganglia, there are complimentary direct and
indirect pathways that govern output activity. Therefore, output of the basal ganglia
depends upon the balance of activity in the complimentary direct and indirect pathways. A
shift in this balance of activity in favor of the indirect pathway leads to the suppression of
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unwanted movement. Such a shift in favor of the indirect pathway would produce which
outcome? Hint: this question stipulates that indirect pathway activity measured at the level
of the striatum IS GREATER THAN direct pathway activity.
Your Answer
decreased activity in the “motor” thalamus (ventral lateral and ventral anterior divisions of the
thalamus)
decreased activity in the internal segment of the globus pallidus
increased activity in the motor cortex
decreased activity in the subthalamic nucleus
decreased activity in the substantia nigra pars reticulata
Total
Question 12
Theme C: Modulation of Movement by the Basal Ganglia
What’s wrong in Parkinson disease?
Your Answer
There is a loss of midbrain dopamine neurons.
Neurons of the globus pallidus internal segment are overactive.
Neurons of the subthalamic nucleus are overactive.
It is very difficult to activate neurons in the ventral anterior/ventral lateral complex of the thalamus.
All of the above cause trouble in Parkinson disease.
Total
Question 13
Theme D: Modulation of Movement by the Cerebellum
With a lesion of a cerebellar hemisphere, when/where would one expect to see ataxia?
Your Answer
at rest, but not during voluntary movement
on the contralateral side of the body only
during voluntary movement of an arm, such as when executing a visually guided reach
on both sides of the body
at rest, but only when anxious or nervous
Total
Question 14
Theme D: Modulation of Movement by the Cerebellum
✔
Which of the following pairings of cerebellar region to function is most accurate?
Your Answer
Scor
lateral hemispheres / coordination of visually guided skill
flocculonodular lobe / coordination of gait
vermis / coordination of rhythmic, undulating arm movements
✘
vermis / vestibulo-ocular calibration
0.00
lateral hemispheres / vestibular-mediated balance
Total
0.00
Question 15
Theme D: Modulation of Movement by the Cerebellum
Which of the following gray matter structures contributes axons to the superior cerebellar
peduncle?
Your Answer
Score
dorsal nucleus of Clarke
pontine nuclei (nuclei in the base of the pons)
dentate nucleus deep in the cerebellum
✘
0.00
vestibular nucleus complex
external cuneate nucleus
Total
0.00 / 1.00
Question 16
Theme D: Modulation of Movement by the Cerebellum
Which of the following gray matter structures contribute axons to the middle cerebellar
peduncle?
Your Answer
Score
inferior olivary nucleus
dentate nucleus deep in the cerebellum
pontine nuclei (nuclei in the base of the pons)
✔
1.00
vestibular nuclear complex
dorsal nucleus of Clarke
Total
Question 17
Theme E: Eye Movements
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Look toward your left (really). What neural center is mainly responsible for this shift of
fixation?
Your Answer
right superior colliculus
Score
✘
0.00
head of right caudate nucleus
right frontal eye field
left inferior colliculus
left frontal eye field
Total
0.00 / 1.00
Question 18
Theme E: Eye Movements
Look back and forth from left to right and back to the left (really). What neural center is
critical for organizing the appropriate output of the oculomotor and abducens nuclei?
Your Answer
vestibular nuclear complex
flocculonodular lobe of the cerebellum
Score
inferior olivary nucleus
red nucleus
horizontal gaze center
✔
Total
1.00
1.00 / 1.00
Question 19
Theme F: Visceral Motor System
Suppose you are like me and you have great difficulty controlling your “nerves” when about
to perform music (or dance, theatre, etc., whatever performance art form appeals to you).
At such moments, what do you think is happening in your “central autonomic network”?
Your Answer
Activity is dramatically increasing in the neural networks that promote sympathetic visceral motor
outflow.
Activity is dramatically increasing in neural networks that promote enteric secretions and motility.
Activity is dramatically increasing in the neural networks that promote parasympathetic visceral
motor outflow.
Activity is dramatically decreasing in the neural networks that promote sympathetic visceral motor
outflow.
Hypothalamic projections to the thoracic spinal cord are becoming suppressed.
Total
Question 20
Theme F: Visceral Motor System
Which of the following statements is LEAST accurate concerning the function of
hypothalamic nuclei?
Your Answer
Hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the regulation of visceral motor preganglionic neurons in the
brainstem and spinal cord.
Hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms.
Hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the relay of sensory information from second order neurons in the
spinal cord and brainstem to primary sensory areas in the cerebral cortex.
Hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the expression of sexual behavior and sexual orientation.
Hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the regulation of the secretion of hormones in the anterior pituitar
gland.
Total