Tulane Block I (HIGH YIELD)

Question 1

Which Cranial Nerve Nuclei do not come off brainstem?

Answer 1

CN I, II and XI

Question 2

Cranial nerves that travel with parasympathetic fibers

Answer 2

CN III, VII, IX

Question 3

At what vertebral level does the spinal cord end?

Answer 3

L1/L2

Question 4

RBCs on LP differential

Answer 4

HSV encephalitis (pleiomorphic lymphocytosis, subacute mental status/psychiatric changes, seizure), Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (sudden onset “thunderclap” headache in women with HTN and tobacco use)

Question 5

Classical cause of low CSF glucose on LP

Answer 5

TB meningitis (also notorious for causing communicating hydrocephalus)

Question 6

Horner’s Syndrome symptoms

Answer 6

Ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis

Question 7

Extraocular muscles not innervated by CN III

Answer 7

Lateral rectus, superior oblique

Question 8

Differentiate UMN and LMN lesions of facial n.

Answer 8

Forehead is dual (bilaterally) innervated: lesions of UMN produce lower face drooping, whereas lesion of LMN produce complete unilateral face drooping

Question 9

Corneal Reflex components

Answer 9

Afferent by Trigeminal (V1); Efferent by facial n.

Question 10

GABA function, broadly

Answer 10

Main inhibitory neurotransmitter

Question 11

Where is the main output from the basal ganglia?

Answer 11

Globus pallidum and substantia nigra

Question 12

What region(s) of the brain is/are most susceptible to ischemic stroke?

Answer 12

Pyramidal neurons of Hippocampus (after that Cerebellar cortex, Cerebral cortex, Basal Ganglia)

Question 13

Define Babinski reflex, incl. normal response in adults

Answer 13

Drag finger across bottom of foot from lateral aspect to ball of foot; big toe should go down (if it goes up - positive)

Question 14

ALS pathognomonic sign

Answer 14

Tongue fasciculations

Question 15

Damage to Cerebellar lateral hemispheres will cause

Answer 15

Ipsilateral motor planning deficit

Question 16

Damage to Cerebellar Intermediate hemispheres will cause

Answer 16

Ipsilateral appendicular muscle deficit

Question 17

Damage to Cerebellar Vermis will cause

Answer 17

Bilateral trunk/axial musculature deficit

Question 18

Damage to Cerebellar Flocculonodular lobes will cause

Answer 18

Problems with vestibule-ocular connections

Question 19

Define Papilledema

Answer 19

Lesion of calcarine sulcus (occipital lobe visual cortex, Brodman’s 17) causing one-sided homonymous hemianopsia with macular sparing

Question 20

Differentiate ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke

Answer 20

Hemorrhagic can cause loss of consciousness

Question 21

Define Todd’s paralysis

Answer 21

Epileptic patients’ seizures followed by brief period of temporary paralysis

Question 22

Severe enlargement of the Thalamic Massa Intermedia is associated with what?

Answer 22

Neural tube defects

Question 23

Thalamocortical fiber output

Answer 23

4th layer of cerebral cortex

Question 24

Corticothalamic fiber input

Answer 24

6th layer of cerebral cortex

Question 25

Genetic etiology of Huntington's Disease

Answer 25

Trinucleotide repeats (CAG)