Central Nervous System

Question 1

the —plays a key role in both the afferent and efferent pathways

Answer 1

thalamus (part of the diencephalon)

Thalamic excitation of the cerebral cortex is necessary for
almost all cortical activity.

Question 2

Sensory neurons enter 
the spinal cord via the 
--- --- and then 
synapse with 
interneurons and/or motor 
neurons in the --- ----

Answer 2

dorsal root

gray matter

Question 3

Motor neurons exit the spinal cord via the — — to go to

effectors

Answer 3

ventral root

Question 4

The spinal cord contains
a central portion of — —
surrounded by — —

Answer 4

gray `matter (neuron cell bodies and interneurons)  
white matter (neuron axons)

Question 5

The gray and white matter are organized. The dorsal columns and
spinothalamic tract contains — while the corticospinal tract contains

Answer 5

ascending sensory axons

descending motor axons

Question 6

the brain regions (6)

Answer 6

1. Cerebrum
2. Diencephalon
3. Midbrain
4. Pons
5. Medulla Oblongata
6. Cerebellum

Question 7

Cerebrum (2)

Answer 7

a. Cerebral Cortex
(Cortical Level)
b. Basal Nuclei

Question 8

Diencephalon (2)

Answer 8

a. Hypothalamus

b. Thalamus

Question 9

subcortical levels contain

Answer 9

2. Diencephalon
3. Midbrain
4. Pons
5. Medulla Oblongata
6. Cerebellum

Question 10

brainstem (3)

Answer 10

The midbrain/mesencephalon, pons

and medulla oblongata

Question 11

There are two cerebral hemispheres (right and left) which are each
subdivided into lobes (Frontal, Parietal, Occipital and Temporal).
— classification uses numbers to label areas of the cortex
where localized physiological functions reside.

Answer 11

Brodmann

Question 12

lobe: frontal

specialized areas: (4)

Answer 12

Premotor and Primary
Motor Cortex, Prefrontal
Cortex, Broca’s Area

Question 13

lobe: parietal

specialized areas: (2)

Answer 13

Primary Sensory Cortex,
Primary Gustatory
Cortex

Question 14

lobe: temporal

specialized areas: (3)

Answer 14

Primary Auditory Cortex,
Primary Olfactory
Cortex, Wernicke’s Area

Question 15

lobe: occipital

specialized areas:

Answer 15

Primary Visual Cortex

Question 16

For each sensory modality, there is a — as well as

Answer 16

primary Area (ex. Primary Olfactory Cortex)

modality-specific association areas (Olfactory Association Cortex)

Question 17

Association (Secondary) areas receive and analyze signals from

Answer 17

multiple regions of both the sensory and motor cortices and subcortical areas.

Question 18

In about 95% of people, the —
hemisphere is the
dominant/categorical
hemisphere

Answer 18

left

Question 19

left hemisphere contains (2)

Answer 19

Wernicke’s Area and

Broca’s Area

Question 20

Motor areas controlling hands
are also dominant leading to
—handedness in most people

Answer 20

right

Question 21

The cerebral — is the gray matter
on the outer surface of the cerebrum.
Contains neuron cell bodies.

Answer 21

cortex

Question 22

The — — allows
for information stored in one
hemisphere available to the
opposite hemisphere.

Answer 22

corpus callosum

Question 23

Severing the corpus callosum

would prevent

Answer 23

somatic and 
visual information from the right 
side of the body from reaching  
the General Interpretive Area 
to be used for decision making.

Question 24

association areas

Answer 24

Receive and analyze signals from multiple regions of
both the sensory and motor cortices and subcortical
areas.

Question 24

prefrontal association area (cortex) (3)

Answer 24

• Decreased aggressiveness and inappropriate social responses
• Ability to progress towards goals or to carry through sequential thoughts
• Keep track of many pieces of information simultaneously and recall the information as needed (working memory).

Question 25

Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas (2)

Answer 25

• In left cerebral hemisphere in almost all right-handed individuals.
• Language Centers involved in production of speech (Broca’s) and
interpretation of spoken and written language (Wernicke’s).

Question 26

The story of
Phineas Gage
illustrates the

Answer 26

functions of the
Prefrontal
Association Area

Question 27

Wernicke’s Aphasia

Answer 27

Fluent, Receptive

Question 28

Broca’s Aphasia

Answer 28

Non-fluent, Expressive

Question 29

Basal Nuclei

Answer 29

Nuclei that are associated with the cerebrum.

Question 30

skipped

Basal Nuclei includes (4)

Answer 30

Caudate Nucleus, Putamen, Globus pallidus, Subthalamic

Nucleus

Question 31

Basal Nuclei is considered an

Answer 31

an accessory motor system as it
functions in close association with the cerebral
cortex (Frontal Lobe) and the Corticospinal
Descending Motor pathway

Question 32

skipped

Striatum =

Answer 32

Caudate + Putamen

Question 33

skipped
Lentiform Nucleus =
Corpus Striatum =

Answer 33

Globus Pallidus + Putamen

Lentiform Nucleus + Caudate

Question 34

Disorders of the basal nuclei cause

movement disorders–

Answer 34

Dyskinesias

Question 35

Hypokinetic disorders

(Parkinson’s disease) are due to

Answer 35

damage to the direct pathway

Question 36

Hyperkinetic movement disorders

(Huntington disease) result from

Answer 36

damage to the indirect pathway

Question 37

The basal nuclei forms two pathways –

Answer 37

direct and

indirect pathways

Question 38

The direct pathway

Answer 38

increases cortical excitation and promotes movement

Question 39

The indirect pathway

Answer 39

inhibits cortical activity and inhibits movement

Question 40

DIENCEPHALON includes (4)

Answer 40

thalamus
hypothalamus
epithalamus
subthalamus

Question 41

Thalamus:

Answer 41

Sensory relay 
for information for the 
cerebral cortex. Motor 
control pathways also 
synapse in the thalamus.

Question 42

Hypothalamus:

Answer 42

Involved in maintaining homeostasis. Impacts

the autonomic, endocrine and limbic systems.

Question 43

Epithalamus:

Answer 43

Contains the pineal body (secretes Melatonin)

that aids in the regulation of circadian rhythms.

Question 44

Subthalamus:

Answer 44

Involved in the basal nuceli and control of
voluntary movement. Damage causes hemiballismus
(contralateral flinging movement of one or both extremities).

Question 45

Limbic System consists of

Answer 45

cortical and diencephalic structures found on the medial aspect of each hemisphere

Question 46

the limbic system is the neuronal circuitry involved in

Answer 46

emotion (fear, anxiety, sadness, happiness, etc.) and memory

Question 47

The hypothalamus is an important output of the
limbic system for the expression of —
because its efferent connections coordinate (2)

Answer 47

emotions

autonomic and visceral functions

Question 48

The — is a central structure in
mediating the fear response; lesions in
this area can prevent —

Answer 48

amygdala

fear

Question 49

Higher cortical areas integrate sensory
information with learned experience and
produce descending input to the
amygdala, which results in the

Answer 49

sensation of fear

Question 50

Output from the 
amygdala to the --- results 
in activation of the “fight or flight” 
response by the Sympathetic Nervous 
System.”

Answer 50

hypothalamus