Neuro 7

Question 1

What structures comprise the neostriatum?

Answer 1

The caudate and the putamen.

Degeneration of GABAergic neurons in the neostriatum, particularly the caudate, are the cause of Huntington disease

Question 2

What would result from a lesion to the genu of the internal capsule?

Answer 2

The genu contains corticobulbar fibers. A lesion here could affect motor function to the contralateral lower face

Question 3

What information is processed by the VPL nucleus?

Answer 3

The VPL is in the thalamus, and receives general sensory information (dorsal column and anterolateral) from the contralateral body

Question 4

What information is processed by the VPM nucleus?

Answer 4

The VPM is in the thalamus, and receives general sensory information (dorsal column and anterolateral) from the contralateral face, as well as taste.

Question 5

What fibers pass through the posterior limb of the internal capsule? What would result from a lesion here?

Answer 5

The posterior limb of the internal capsule contains:

• -corticospinal fibers
• -3rd order somatosensory thalamocortical fibers

A lesion here would produce hemianesthesia of the contralateral body and face, as well as upper motor neuron symptoms in the contralateral body

Question 6

What would result for most people from a lesion to Broca’s area in the non-language dominant (right) hemisphere?

Answer 6

For most people, a lesion here would not cause an obvious language deficit, but it may affect the emotional context of speech.

Question 7

What function is associated with the insula?

Answer 7

contains the primary gustatory cortex (taste)

Question 8

What functions is the nucleus ambiguus involved with?

Answer 8

Motor innervation of the pharynx, larynx, and upper esophagus (e.g., swallowing, palate elevation)

CN nuclei 9 and 10