11. What is the term for the loss of taste sensation?

(A) Ageusia - loss of taste sensation. total ageusia means loss of all taste sensation, partial
ageusia refers to loss of a particular taste sensation, and hypogeusia means decreased sensation of
taste.

(B) Agnosia - difficulty or inability to recognize objects. Visual agnosia - disorder of a secondary
visual area in which there is failure to understand the meaning or use of an object

(C) Anosmia - loss of olfactory function; may result from damage to the olfactory mucosa caused
by infections.

(D) Areflexia - absence of neurologic reflexes.

(E) Ataxia - errors in the range, rate, force and direction of movement that result in loss of muscle
coordination.

13. Where is the primary auditory cortex (process auditory signal) located in the
brain?
(A) Lateral surface of the occipital lobe

(B) Middle frontal gyrus

(C) Parahippocampal gyrus

(D) Parietal lobe

(E) Superior temporal gyrus

the primary auditory cortex is located in the transverse temporal gyri (of Heschl) of the medial
aspect of the superior temporal gyrus
For questions #16-20, please match the receptor with their function:

(A) Detects magnitude and direction of

16. Meissner’s corpuscle (E) stretch.

Low-threshold, rapidly adapting (B) Detects pain and temperature.

mechanoreceptors sensitive to touch and
vibration located beneath the epidermis of the (C) Detects pressure.
fingers, palm of the hand, plantar surface of the
foot, and the toes (glabrous skin). (D) Detects rapid indentation of skin.
17. Merkle’s receptor (C) (E) Detects touch.
Low-threshold, slowly adapting
mechanoreceptors, sensitive to pressure stimuli
and consisting of a large epithelial cell in the
basal layer of the epidermis that is in close
contact with an axon.

18. Pacinian corpuscle (D)

Low-threshold, rapidly adapting receptors

sensitive to rapid indentation of the skin caused
by vibration of high frequency; located deep in
the dermis layer of both hairy and glabrous skin.

19. Ruffini’s corpuscle (A)

Low-threshold, slowly adapting receptors

sensitive to stretching of the skin; provide in-
formation about the magnitude and direction of
stretch.

20. Nociceptor

Free nerve endings that sense noxious stimuli.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions (#36-40): Write the term that best
completes each statement on your answer sheet. The term can contain
one or more words.

36. Prolonged stimulation of neurons by excitatory amino acids resulting in

neuronal death or injury is called excitotoxicity.

37. Saltatory conduction refers to the rapid transmission of an action potential

along the axon when the action potential jumps from one node of Ranvier to
another.

saltatory conduction Rapid conduction of an action potential along the axon when the action
potential jumps from one node of Ranvier to another; the action poten- tial becomes regenerated at
the nodes of Ranvier, which are uninsulated, have a lower resistance, and are rich in Na (sodium)
channels.
 38. The alar plate will become sensory neurons and form the dorsal horn, while
the basal plate will become motor neurons and form the ventral horn.

alar plate Region of the developing nervous system situated dorsal to the sulcus limitans that will
become sensory in function.

basal plate Region of the developing nervous system situated ventral to the sulcus limitans that will
become motor in function.

The relationship between cranial nerve nuclei and the sulcus limitans is the key point to note. Recall
that the sulcus limitans separates motor from sensory structures. Those structures that lie medial to
the sulcus limitans are derived from the basal plate, and those found lateral to the sulcus limitans are
derived from the alar plate. This relationship closely resembles that described previously for the spinal
cord in which the ventral horn, which is derived from the basal plate, is associated with motor
functions, whereas the dorsal horn, which is derived from the alar plate, is associated with sensory
functions. The region near the sulcus limitans is associated with autonomic functions.
39. In early embryonic development, part of the neural crest cell will differentiate
into chromaffin cells, Schwann cells, and melanocytes.
40. Proprioceptors respond to mechanical forces generated within the body itself,
such as stretch of a muscle, tendon, or bodily position.

41. Which of the following statements are true regarding the primary
somatosensory cortex?

(A) It is within the postcentral gyrus.

(B) It is rostral to the motor cortex.

(C) It is part of the frontal lobe.

(D) It is a cortical homunculus.

(E) It contains the Wernicke’s area.

Forty percent of the fibers arise from the postcentral gyrus (which is referred to as the primary
somatosensory cortex [S-1] and includes areas 3, 1 and 2). The remaining 30% of the fibers originate
from the region immediately rostral to the precentral gyrus (area 6, called the supplemental motor
area [SMA] and the premotor cortex [PMC].

A similar homunculus is also present for primary somatosensory cortex.

homunculus - somatoptopic organization of sensory and motor regions of the cerebral cortex in which
the cells of origin functionally associated with the head, arm, and leg are located in the ventrolateral,
convexity, and medial wall of the hemisphere, respectively

43. Which of the following structures are part of the brainstem?

(A) Caudate nucleus

(B) Dentate nucleus

(C) Superior colliculus

(D) Pons

(E) Vermis

44. Which of the following structures are responsible for the production of cerebral
spinal fluid?

(A) Arachnoid villus

(B) Choroid plexus

(C) Fastigium

(D) Lateral ventricle

(E) Parenchyma

About 70% of the CSF present in the brain and spinal cord is produced by the choroid plexuses. The
remaining 30% of CSF, which is secreted by the parenchyma of the brain, crosses the ependyma (a
single layer of ciliated columnar epithelial cells lining the ventricular system) and enters the ventricles.
The formation of CSF is an active process involving the enzyme carbonic anhydrase and specific
transport mechanisms.
47. As you are reading this question and writing down the answer, your brain is at
work. Please describe the process by putting the following events in
chronological order.
(A) The signals reach the cerebral cortex.

(B) The signals reach the cones.

(C) The signals reach the lateral geniculate nucleus.

(D) The signals reach the left occipitotemporal cortex.

(E) The signals reach the motor end plate.

48. You were playing basketball with friends and got elbowed in the face vying for
a rebound. Please describe the pathway pain information is processed by
putting the following events in sequential order.
(A) Glutamate and Substance P is released into the synaptic cleft.

(B) The signals reach the primary somatosensory cortex.

(C) The signals reach the thalamus.

(D) The signals reach the trigeminal ganglion.

(E) The signals travel along the maxillary nerve.

49. Please describe the pupillary light reflex by putting the following events in
chronological order.

(A) The ciliary ganglion innervates the ciliary muscle.

(B) The retinal ganglion cells are innervated.

(C) The signals reach the oculomotor nucleus.

(D) The signals travel along the oculomotor nerve.

(E) The signals travel along the optic tract.

B →C → D → A→E
 50. Please indicate the circulatory pathway of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) by
putting the following structures in sequential order.
(A) Cerebral aqueduct

(B) Cistern magna

(C) Foramen of Monroe

(D) Fourth ventricle

(E) Lateral ventricle

E→C → A→D→B

Circulation
The movement of CSF is pulsatile. It flows from the lateral ventricles into the third ventricle through
the foramina of Monro where it mixes with more CSF. Then, it flows through the cerebral aqueduct
(aqueduct of Sylvius) into the fourth ventricle, where additional CSF is secreted. The CSF leaves the
fourth ventricle via the foramina of Luschka and Magendie and enters the cerebellomedullary cistern
(cisterna magna). The CSF in the cisterna magna then travels rostrally over the cerebral hemisphere
where it enters the arachnoid villi. As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the arachnoid villi allow flow
of CSF into the dural venous sinuses but do not allow flow in the opposite direction because the
pressure in the subarachnoid space is higher (about 200 mm H2O) compared with the pressure in the
dural venous sinuses (about 80 mm H2O). The CSF in the cisterna magna also flows downward into
the spinal subarachnoid space and then ascends along the ventral surface of the spinal cord into the
basal part of the brain where it courses dorsally to empty into the dural sinuses.