Neuroanatomy

Question 1

_____ are cells of the central nervous system located within the gray matter that are responsible for all neurological functions of the brain.

Answer 1

Neurons

Question 2

The _____ is the substance of the brain and spinal cord that contains the neuronal cell bodies of the central nervous system.

Answer 2

gray matter

Question 3

Within the cerebrum, the two main locations of gray matter are on the surface of the gyri (the _____ gray matter) and the nuclei of the _____.

Answer 3

cortical; basal ganglia

Question 4

The brainstem contains gray matter in the numerous _____.

Answer 4

nuclei

Question 5

In the cerebellum, the gray matter is located on the _____ of the cerebellar cortex and the deep cerebellar _____.

Answer 5

folia; nuclei

Question 6

In the spinal cord, the gray matter is located in the _____ of the cord surrounding the central canal.

Answer 6

center

Question 7

The _____ is the substance of the brain and spinal cord that contains the fiber tracts of neuronal axons in the central nervous system.

Answer 7

white matter

Question 8

A _____ is a collection of axons.

Answer 8

tract

Question 9

_____ is the clear liquid that surrounds and bathes the brain and spinal cord.

Answer 9

Cerebrospinal fluid

Question 10

What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid?

Answer 10

• Protection of the brain and spinal cord against rapid acceleration and deceleration
• Providing buoyancy to the brain
• Maintenance of intracranial pressure
• Supplying nutrients
• Removing metabolites

Question 11

_____ nerve fibers refer to axonal projections that arrive at a particular brain region.

Answer 11

Afferent

Question 12

_____ nerve fibers refer to axonal projections that exit a particular region.

Answer 12

Efferent

Question 13

What are four terms used to describe bundles of white matter?

Answer 13

tracts; fasciculi; peduncles; stria

Question 14

_____ are a network of interconnected cavities within the brain that are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Answer 14

Ventricles

Question 15

Nutrients from the blood reach the nerve cells through the _____.

Answer 15

cerebrospinal fluid

Question 16

The diencephalon is composed of the _____ and _____.

Answer 16

thalamus; hypothalamus

Question 17

Cells in the dorsal section of the spinal cord _____.

Answer 17

receive sensory information

Question 18

Cells in the ventral region of the spinal cord are responsible for _____ as well as _____.

Answer 18

• Conveying motor commands to the muscles
• Receiving input from the brain/other regions of the spinal cord

Question 19

Toward the front is known as _____ or _____.

Answer 19

anterior; rostral

Question 20

Toward the back is known as _____ or _____.

Answer 20

posterior; caudal

Question 21

Near the top of the head is known as _____.

Answer 21

superior; dorsal

Question 22

Toward the bottom is known as _____.

Answer 22

inferior; ventral

Question 23

Near the middle or midline of the body is known as _____.

Answer 23

medial

Question 24

Toward the side of the head is known as _____.

Answer 24

lateral

Question 25

The medulla is important for _____ and _____. ​​

Answer 25

• Controlling life-sustaining functions (e.g., heartbeat and breathing)
• Overall alertness and arousal

Question 26

The cerebellum is important for _____ and _____. ​​

Answer 26

• Skilled, coordinated motor movement
• Fluid cognition

Question 27

The _____ is the brain region at which information from many of the cranial nerves enters the nervous system.

Answer 27

pons

Question 28

The midbrain is home to two important structures involved in orienting toward sensory stimuli: the _____ and the _____.

Answer 28

inferior colliculus; superior colliculus

Question 29

The inferior colliculus (in the midbrain) which processes _____ information.

Answer 29

auditory

Question 30

The superior colliculus (in the midbrain) processes _____ information.

Answer 30

visual

Question 31

The hypothalamus is important for _____, such as seeking food, seeking a sexual partner, and fleeing.

Answer 31

motivational behavior

Question 32

The thalamus is a major relay center in the brain whereby which two things occur?

Answer 32

• Information from the sensory world is reorganized on its way to the cortex
• Information from the cortex is reorganized on its way to the periphery

Question 33

What are the two major subcortical systems?

Answer 33

basal ganglia; limbic system

Question 34

The basal ganglia is involved in _____.

Answer 34

the control of movement

Question 35

The limbic system is traditionally thought to be important for _____ but now known to be involved in other functions as well, such as _____.

Answer 35

emotion; memory

Question 36

What are the functions of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 36

• Processing sensory input
• Controlling motor output
• Higher-order mental functions (e.g., object recognition, spatial processing, and memory)

Question 37

Information is conveyed within a neuron via a(n) _____ signal.

Answer 37

electrical

Question 38

An action potential consists of a change in the differential electrical charge across the cell membrane from _____ to _____ and back again.

Answer 38

–70 mV; +40 mV

Question 39

An action potential causes _____ to be released.

Answer 39

neurotransmitter

Question 40

As a result of an action potential, the neurotransmitter chemical diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds with specific receptors on the postsynaptic side of neighboring neurons. ​​ This chemical binding causes the production of _____, which summate in time and space and can cause an action potential.

Answer 40

postsynaptic potentials

Question 41

The effect of postsynaptic potentials is temporally limited by what five factors?

Answer 41

• Reuptake of the neurotransmitter by the presynaptic neuron
• Enzymatic deactivation of the neurotransmitter
• Binding at autoreceptors
• Uptake of the neurotransmitter by nearby glial cells
• Diffusion away from the synaptic cleft