CHAPTER 9 - Book Review Questions

Question 1

The following statements concern the functions of the reticular formation:

(a) It influences the activity of the a and y motor
neurons.
(b) It opposes the actions of the vestibular spinal
tract.
(c) It does not bring about reciprocal inhibition
during contraction of the prime mover muscles.
(d) It plays no part in maintaining the tone of the
antigravity muscles.
(e) It cannot modulate reflex activity.

Answer 1

A is correct.

• The reticular formation influences the activity of the a and y motor neurons. B. The reticular formation does not oppose the actions of the vestibular spinal tract. C. The reticular formation brings about reciprocal inhibition during contraction of the prime mover muscles. D. The reticular formation helps maintain the tone of the antigravity muscles. E. The reticular formation can modulate reflex activity.

Question 2

The following statements concern the functions of the reticular formation:

(a) It does not affect the reception of pain.
(b) It cannot influence all ascending pathways to
the supraspinal levels.
(c) By means of its reticulobulbar and reticulospinal
tracts, it can control parasympathetic and sympathetic outflows.
(d) It has no effect on biologic rhythms.
(e) It does not influence the degree of wakefulness
of an individual.

Answer 2

C is correct.

• The reticular formation by means of its reticulobulbar and reticulospinal tracts can control the parasympathetic and sympathetic outflows. A. The reticular formation does affect the reception of pain. B. The reticular formation can influence all ascending pathways to the supraspinal levels. D. The reticular formation can affect the biologic rhythms. E. The reticular formation can influence the degree of wakefulness of an individual.

Question 3

Anatomically, the following structures collectively
form the limbic system:

(a) Amygdaloid nucleus, red nucleus, and vestibular nuclei
(b) Pulvinar of the thalamus and the substantia nigra
(c) Hippocampal formation
(d) Cingulate gyrus and uncus
(e) Subcallosal, cingulate, and parahippocampal
gyri, hippocampal formation, amygdaloid nucleus, mammillary bodies, and anterior thalamic nuclei

Answer 3

E is correct.

• The limbic system is made up of the subcallosal, the cingulate, and the parahippocampal gyri, the hippocampal formation, the amygdaloid nucleus, the mammillary bodies, and the anterior thalamic nuclei (see Fig. 9-3).

Question 4

The following statements concern the efferent connections of the hippocampus:

(a) They arise from the small granular cells of the
cortex.
(b) They travel through the fornix.
(c) None of the fibers enter the mammillary body. (d) The fibers within the fornix pass posterior to
the interventricular foramen.
(e) Some of the fibers end in thalamic posterior
nuclei.

Answer 4

B is correct.

• The efferent connections of the hippocampus travel through the fornix. A. The efferent connections of the hippocampus arise from large pyramidal cells of the cortex. C. Some of the efferent fibers from the hippocampus enter the mammillary bodies. D. The efferent fibers in the fornix pass anterior to the interventricular foramen. E. Some of the efferent fibers from the hippocampus end in the anterior nuclei of the thalamus.

Question 5

The following statements concern the functions of
the limbic system:

(a) It is not concerned with fear and anger.
(b) It is concerned with visual experiences.
(c) The hippocampus is concerned with recent
memory.
(d) The limbic system plays an important role in
olfactory function.
(e) It directly influences the activity of the endocrine system.

Answer 5

C is correct.

• The hippocampus is concerned with recent memory. A. The limbic system is concerned with the reactions of fear and anger. B. The limbic system is not concerned with visual experiences. D. The limbic system plays no part in olfactory function. E. The limbic system indirectly influences the activity of the endocrine system.

Question 6

The following statements concern the reticular formation:

(a) Reticulobulbar and reticulospinal tracts form the afferent pathways from the reticular formation to the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves and the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, respectively.
(b) The reticular formation extends through the neuroaxis from the spinal cord to the midbrain.
(c) The main pathways through the reticular formation may easily be traced from one part of
the CNS to another using silver stains.
(d) Superiorly, the reticular formation is relayed to the cerebral cortex.
(e) Afferent pathways project into the reticular formation from only a few parts of the CNS.

Answer 6

D is correct.

• The reticular formation is relayed superiorly to the cerebral cortex. A. The retrobulbar and reticulospinal tracts form the efferent pathways from the reticular formation to the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves and the anterior horn cells of the spinal cord, respectively. B. The reticular formation extends through the neuroaxis from the spinal cord to the thalamus. C. The main pathways through the reticular formation are poorly defined and difficult to trace from one part of the CNS to another using silver stains. E. Afferent pathways project into the reticular formation from most parts of the CNS.