AST REVIEW FOR NERVOUS SYSTEM ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
1. A ganglion is a
Chemical substance secreted by the ova
Necrotic death of tissue
Missing segment
Collection of nerve endings
2. The brain contains four fluid-filled spaces called the:
Ventricles
Auricles
Fissures
Sulci
3. The area of the brain that controls respiration is the:
Cerebellum
Pons
Medulla oblongata
Cerebrum
4. All thought takes place in the:
Midbrain
Cerebral cortex
Cerebellum
Pons
5. The basic unit of the nervous system is the:
Neuron
Axon
Dendrite
Ion
6. The cranial nerve that contains special fibers for hearing as well as for balance is:
V
VIII
XI
XII
7. The peripheral nervous system contains:
Brain and spinal cord
Cranial and spinal nerves
Spinal cord and spinal nerves
Cranial nerves and spinal cord
8. Muscle tone, coordination of voluntary muscles, and balance are controlled in the:
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Pons
Medulla
9. The largest part of the brain is the:
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Pons
Hypothalamus
10. Which cranial nerve emerges from the medulla, passes through the skull, and descends through the neck
region into the thorax and abdominal region?
IX
X
XI
XII
11. The cranial nerve that carries motor fibers to the tongue and sensory impulses from the tongue to the
brain is the:
Glossopharyngeal
Hypoglossal
Facial
Olfactory
12. Which cranial nerve can be tested for sensations of pain, touch, and temperature with the use of a safety
pin and hot and cold objects?
IV
V
VII
VIII
13. Which cranial nerve carries impulses for sense of smell?
I
II
III
IV
14. Neurons that conduct impulses to the cardiac muscles are part of the:
Central nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Afferent system
Somatic system
15. The outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord is the:
Arachnoid
Dura mater
Pia mater
Pons
16. The contractions of involuntary muscles are controlled by the:
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system Central nervous system
Somatic nervous system
17. The neuroglia are cells that:
Support and protect
Conduct impulses
Are only found outside the central nervous system
Convey visceral Information
18. The cytoplasmic process of a neuron that conducts impulses away from the cell body is a/an:
Ganglion
Dendrite
Nissil body
Axon
19. The part of the brain that is a continuation of the spinal cord and forms the inferior portion of the brain
stem is the:
Pons
Medulla
Midbrain
Hypothalamus
20. Which area of the brain produces subconscious skeletal muscle movements required for coordination
and balance?
Cerebrum
Cerebellum
Midbrain
Medulla
21. The fifth cranial nerve is also called the:
Vagus nerve
Vestibulocochlear nerve
Trigeminal nerve
Trochlear
22. Which of the following neuroglia are star shaped and attach neurons to their blood vessels?
Ependyma
Oligodendroglia
Microglia
Astrocytes
23. Where is cerebrospinal fluid formed?
Cerebellum
Superior sagittal sinus
Ventricles
Auricles
24. The diencephalon is composed of the:
Pons and Midbrain
Medulla and insula
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Midbrain and thalamus
25. The wisp-like roots of the nerves at the end of the spinal cord are called the:
Conus medullaris
Filum terminale
Cauda Equina
Median fissure
26. Neuron axons that are surrounded by a multilayer, white, phospholipid, segmented covering are called:
gray matter
Myelinated neurons Neurofibrils
Nissl bodies
27. Chemicals released by neurons to increase or inhibit impulses are called:
Polarizers
Neurotransmitters
Regenerators
Synapse
28. The bridge connecting the spinal cord with the brain is the:
Brain stem
Pons
Midbrain
Diencephalon
29. The part of the brain that is responsible for controlling the body temperature by triggering heat and cold
sensitive activities is the __________________
Hypothalamus
Cerebellum
Cerebrum
Pons
30. The control system in which feedback concerning changes in the body’s internal environment causes a
response that reverses these changes is called _______________________
Normal range
Negative feedback
Homeostatic mechanism Internal environment
31. The outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord is the _________________
Arachnoid
Dura mater
Pia mater
Pons
32. The sutures of the skull are examples of _____________________
Synarthrosis
Amphiarthrosis
Diarthrosis
Synchondrosis
33. Which cranial nerve regulates the secretion of gastric juices? ___________________
X nerve (Vagus)
XII nerve
I nerve
V nerve
1. Surgical trauma to the first and second cranial nerves would cause the loss of smell and:
Taste
Speech
Hearing
Sight
2. Meniere’s disease is associated with which cranial nerve?
VII
VIII
IX
X
3. The cause of arteriovenous malformation is a/an:
Hematoma
congenital defect
atherosclerosis
tumor
4. The procedure that involves freeing up a nerve from adhesions for restoration of function is called:
Transposition
sterotaxis
neurolysis
fusion
5. The incomplete closure of the vertebral arches in the newborn is:
Hydrocephalus
Spina bifida
scoliosis
meningocele
6. The most common cause of intracerebral hemorrhage is:
Transient ischemic attack
hypertension Congenital aneurysm
brain tumor
7. A tumor arising from the covering of the brain is a:
Meningioma
Hemangioblastoma
Glioma
Epidural hematoma
8. An encapsulated collection of blood over a cerebral hemisphere, producing intracranial pressure is
called a/an:
Arteriovenous malformation
Craniosynostosis
Subdural hematoma
SPECIAL SENSES AND THEIR ORGANS:
1. The nasal cavity is divided into two portions by the
Ethmoid
Septum
Vomer
Turbinates
2. The structure that drains excess tears to the nasal cavity, causing the nose to run is the
Nasopharynx
Sinus cavities
Nasolacrimal duct
Ciliary glands
3. The cartilaginous nasal septum lies upon which bone?
Hyoid
Vomer
Mandible
Palatine
4. The structure that connects the middle ear and the throat, allowing the eardrum to vibrate
freely is the
External auditory canal Eustachian tube Semicircular canal
Labyrinth
5. Another name for tympanic membrane is the
External ear canal
Eardrum
Semicircular canal
Eustachian tube
6. The winding, cone-shaped tube of the inner ear is the
Semicircular canal
Vestibule
Cochlea
Ampulla
7. The nasal sinus located between the nose and the orbits is the
Frontal sinus Sphenoid
Ethmoid
Maxillary sinus
8. Which ossicle of the middle ear covers the oval window?
Malleus
Incus
Stapes
Utricle
9. Which part of the ear is responsible for equilibrium?
Semicircular canals
Middle ear
Cochlea
Meatus
10. A term referring to a waxy secretion in the external ear canal is
Pinna
Aurum
Cerumen
Saccule
11. Which of the following structures is not an ossicle of the middle ear?
Incus
Vestibule
Stapes
Malleus
12. The fluid within the membranous labyrinth is called
Perilymph
Endolymph Intralabyrinthine lymph
Otolymph
13. In the physiology of hearing, sound waves collect in the ______________ and pass on to hit
the ___________
Auricle, ossicles
Ossicles, oval window External auditory canal, tympanic membrane
Ossicles, auricles
14. The white, tough layer of the eyes that gives it it’s shape is the
Cornea
Iris
Sclera
Choroid
15. The layer of the eye that is clear, covers the iris, and contains no blood vessels is the
Cornea
Iris
Sclera
Choroid
16. The layer of the eye that absorbs light rays and nourishes the retina through its numerous
blood vessels is the
Sclera
Ciliary body
Choroid
iris
17. Which muscle alters the shape of the lens of the eye to accommodate near or far vision?
Rectus muscle
Oblique muscle
Circular muscle
Ciliary muscle
18. What structure regulates the amount of light entering the eye and assists in obtaining a clear
image?
Pupil
Iris
Cornea
Retina
19. Intraocular pressure is primarily dependent on
Vitreous humor
Aqueous humor
Macula lutea Nerve impulses
20. At the junction of the sclera and cornea is a venous sinus known as the
Macula
Uvea
Canal of Schlemm
Glands of Zeis
21. The smooth intrinsix muscle that alters the shape of the eye lens is the
Iris
Ciliary body Medial rectus
Lateral rectus
22. The ciliary body is part of which layer of the eye?
Fibrous
Vascular
Nervous
Lens
23. The abbreviation used for the left eye is
LE
OS
OP
OU
24. What is the definition of otosclerosis?
Earache
Ringing in the ear
Hardening of the spongy bone in ear
Hardening of tympanic membrane
25. The medical term for a nosebleed is
Epistaxis
Sinusitis
Rhinitis
Hemoptysis
26. Meniere’s syndrome involves the
Middle ear
Inner ear
Eustachian tube
Auditory ossicles
27. Untreated acute otitis media may result in
Mastoiditis Adenoiditis Otosclerosis Cholesteatoma
28. Otoplasty is performed to correct a congenital deformity of the
Mouth
Nose
Ear
Eye
29. An uneven curvature of the cornea is known as
Myopia
Strabismus
Astigmatism Hyperopia
30. The inability to direct both eyes at the same object is called:
Strabismus Glaucoma
Chalazion
Vitreoretinopathy