Online Module 1

Question 1

Where is the somatosensory cortex located?

Answer 1

Posterior to the central sulcus, on the parietal lobe (post central gyrus)

Question 2

In an ascending pathway, where does information coming from the Left terminate on the brain?

Answer 2

Terminates on the Right somatosensory cortex

Question 3

What is the function of the Spinothalamic tract (anterolateral system)?

Answer 3

conveys pain, temperature, tickle, itch, crude touch

Question 4

Where are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd order neurones of the spinothalamic tract?

Answer 4

1st: dorsal root ganglion
2nd: dorsal horn
3rd: thalamus

Question 5

Where or when does the decussation occur in a spinothalamic tract?

Answer 5

After the 2nd order neuron synapse, at the anterior white commissure

Question 6

What is the function of the Dorsal column system?

Answer 6

conveys fine touch and proprioception

Question 7

Where are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd order neurones of the Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway?

Answer 7

1st: dorsal root ganglion
2nd: brain stem (medulla oblongata)
3rd: thalamus

Question 8

Where or when does the decussation occur in a dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway?

Answer 8

After 2nd order neurone synapses at the brainstem (medulla oblongata)

Question 9

Where is the primary motor cortex located?

Answer 9

Anterior to the central sulcus on the parietal lobe (precentral gyrus)

Question 10

What is the function of the corticospinal pathway?

Answer 10

Fine precise movements (axial and limb motor)

Question 11

Where is the upper and lower motor neurone located in the corticospinal pathway?

Answer 11

Upper: Primary motor cortex
Lower: anterior horn of grey matter

Question 12

Where does decussation occur in a lateral corticospinal pathway and which neurone decussates?

Answer 12

Decussation of the upper motor neurone at the lateral corticospinal tract. Decussation occurs before synapse with the lower motor neurone

Question 13

What is the function of the corticobulba pathway?

Answer 13

Provides motor control of the head and neck

Question 14

Where do the 1st and 2nd order neurone synapse in the corticobulba pathway?

Answer 14

Synapse occurs immediately after decussation at the brainstem. Lower motor neurone leaves via spinal nerves

Question 15

What is the function of the brainstem pathway (descending pathways)?

Answer 15

Provides basic control like posture, balancing, walking

Question 16

Where do neurones originate from in the brainstem pathway?

Answer 16

At the brainstem

Question 17

Do the upper motor neurones of the brainstem pathway project to appropriate spinal cord segments contralaterally or ipsilaterally?

Answer 17

ipsilaterally

Question 18

What occurs at the highest level of motor control? What areas are involved?

Answer 18

Planning of movement: intended movement initiation, forming complex motor plan.
Premotor/motor association, parts involved in memory and emotion

Question 19

What occurs the the middle level of motor control? What areas are involved?

Answer 19

Programming of movement: plan goes to a small number of programs projected along corticospinal pathway and or brainstem pathway
Sensorimotor cotex, basal nuclei, cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus

Question 20

What occurs at the lowest level of motor control? what areas are involved?

Answer 20

Execution of movement: determined by force, tension sensed by proprioception and reflex
Brainstem, spinal cord, interneurons

Question 21

What is the importance of the cerebellum in motor control? What pathway does it influence?

Answer 21

Compares intended movement to actual movement. large influence on brainstem nuclei, thus the brainstem pathway

Question 22

What happens to motor control when the cerebellum is damaged?

Answer 22

Tremor during movement and poor hand eye coordination due to inability to compare incoming signals to outgoing signals.
Unstable posture, awkward walking gait (brainstem pathway)

Question 23

What is the importance of the basal nuclei in motor control?

Answer 23

Supports wanted movement, and suppresses unwanted movement. Ensures programs leading to actual movement are appropriately formed.

Question 24

What happens to motor control when the basal nuclei is damaged?

Answer 24

Tremor at rest due to lack of inhibition of unwanted movement.
Muscle rigidity at rest
Difficulty in initiating/stopping movement
Walking-shuffling gait (little arm movement)
Little facial expression

Question 25

What type of neurone are afferent neurones?

Answer 25

Sensory, unipolar neurones

Question 26

Where are afferent neurone cell bodies located?

Answer 26

Outside the CNS at the dorsal root ganglion

Question 27

What type of neurone are efferent neurones?

Answer 27

Motor, multipolar neurones

Question 28

Where are efferent neurone cell bodies located?

Answer 28

In the ventral horn of grey matter of the CNS

Question 29

Where are interneurones located?

Answer 29

Entirely in the CNS

Question 30

What type of neurone are interneurones?

Answer 30

Multipolar

Question 31

What is the function of an interneurone?

Answer 31

Projects information from sensory afferent neurone to brain, and from brain to efferent neurones

Question 32

What aids the transport of substances of a nerve that need to be transported anterogradely?

Answer 32

Microtubules, and carrier protein kinesin

Question 33

What aids the transport of substances of a nerve that need to be transported retrogradely?

Answer 33

Microtubules, and carrier protein dynein