Study Questions for Nervous System Test II
Part 1 – Protective Tissues of the Brain
1. What are the three meningeal layers (or meninges) and what is their function? Which layer is innermost, which
layer is the outermost?
2. What is the function of the choroid plexus and where is it located?
3. What is the difference between a concussion and a contusion?
4 What is the function of the corpus callosum?
5. Where in the CNS is cerebrospinal fluid found?
6. Where is the subarachnoid space and what is found in the subarachnoid space?
7. What substances can get across the blood brain barrier and what substances cannot?
Part 2 – Cerebrum
1. What is the corpus callosum, where is it found, and what is its function?
2. For each of the following areas of the brain – describe their function and where they are found – Broca’s area,
olfactory area, primary motor area, primary somatic sensory area, Gustatory area, personality area, and gustatory
area.
3. Describe the functions of each of the lobes of the brain – occipital lobe, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, and parietal
lobe
4. Describe the distribution of gray matter and white matter within the cerebral cortex
5. What are the basal nuclei?
Part 3 – Cerebellum, Brainstem, and Diencephalon
1. List the three parts of the diencephalon
2. Describe the location and function of each part of the diencephalon
3. What part of the diencephalon is associated with the pituitary gland?
4. List the three parts of the brain stem and describe each of their functions.
5. Describe the structure and function of the cerebellum
Part 4 – Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
1. How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
2. What is the name for the spinal nerves that serve the skin and muscles of the posterior trunk?
3. What is the name for the spinal nerves that form a complex of networks for the anterior part of the body?
4. Arrange the following from superior to inferior: thoracic spinal nerves, cervical spinal nerves, lumbar spinal
nerves, and sacral spinal nerves.