Which secondary brain vesicle develops into the cerebrum?
Telencephalon
✓
Diencephalon
Metencephalon
Myelencephalon
Correct Answer
Telencephalon
The prosencephalon divides into the telencephalon and diencephalon, and the telencephalon grows into the two cerebral hemispheres. The diencephalon becomes the thalamus and hypothalamus. The metencephalon becomes the pons and cerebellum. The myelencephalon becomes the medulla oblongata.
Category: Embryonic Development
Question 2
The metencephalon, one of the five secondary brain vesicles, gives rise to which adult structures?
Thalamus and hypothalamus
Pons and cerebellum
✓
Midbrain and medulla
Cerebrum and basal nuclei
Correct Answer
Pons and cerebellum
The rhombencephalon (hindbrain) splits into the metencephalon, which forms the pons and cerebellum, and the myelencephalon, which forms the medulla. Thalamus and hypothalamus come from the diencephalon. Midbrain and medulla come from two different vesicles, the mesencephalon and myelencephalon. Cerebrum and basal nuclei come from the telencephalon.
Category: Embryonic Development
Question 3
Cells of the neural crest, which separate from the edges of the neural folds, give rise to which structures?
Spinal cord
Retina
Dorsal root ganglia
✓
Cerebellum
Correct Answer
Dorsal root ganglia
Neural crest cells migrate away from the closing neural tube and form much of the peripheral nervous system, including sensory ganglia such as the dorsal root ganglia. Spinal cord tissue comes from the posterior neural tube itself. Retina develops from the eye cup, an outgrowth of the diencephalon. Cerebellum develops from the metencephalon of the neural tube.
Category: Embryonic Development
Question 4
The primary motor cortex, which sends commands to skeletal muscles, is located in which gyrus?
Postcentral gyrus
Superior temporal gyrus
Cingulate gyrus
Precentral gyrus
✓
Correct Answer
Precentral gyrus
The precentral gyrus lies in the frontal lobe just anterior to the central sulcus and contains the primary motor cortex. Postcentral gyrus is the primary somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe. Superior temporal gyrus contains the primary auditory cortex. Cingulate gyrus is part of the limbic cortex on the medial surface of the hemisphere.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 5
The primary visual cortex is found in which lobe of the cerebrum?
Occipital lobe
✓
Temporal lobe
Parietal lobe
Frontal lobe
Correct Answer
Occipital lobe
Visual information from the retina is relayed through the thalamus to the occipital lobe at the back of the cerebrum. Temporal lobe processes hearing and contributes to memory. Parietal lobe processes somatosensation such as touch and body position. Frontal lobe handles motor control, planning and other cognitive functions.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 6
Broca's area, usually located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for which function?
Comprehension of spoken words
Production of speech
✓
Processing of visual input
Regulation of body temperature
Correct Answer
Production of speech
Broca's area plans the motor patterns needed to produce spoken language, so damage there causes difficulty forming words. Comprehension of spoken words depends on Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe. Processing of visual input occurs in the occipital lobe. Regulation of body temperature is a function of the hypothalamus.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 7
Which large band of white matter connects the right and left cerebral hemispheres?
Internal capsule
Fornix
Corpus callosum
✓
Cerebral peduncle
Correct Answer
Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum is a broad tract of axons that crosses the midline and lets the two hemispheres communicate. Internal capsule carries axons between the cortex and lower structures within each hemisphere. Fornix is a tract linking the hippocampus to the hypothalamus. Cerebral peduncle is a bundle of descending fibers in the midbrain.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 8
Which part of the diencephalon controls the autonomic nervous system and regulates secretion by the anterior pituitary?
Pineal gland
Thalamus
Subthalamus
Hypothalamus
✓
Correct Answer
Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus sits below the thalamus and is the main homeostatic control center, directing autonomic output and the endocrine activity of the pituitary. Pineal gland is part of the epithalamus and secretes melatonin. Thalamus relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex. Subthalamus contains a nucleus that works with the basal nuclei in movement control.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 9
Which sense reaches the cerebral cortex without first being relayed through the thalamus?
Olfaction
✓
Vision
Hearing
Touch
Correct Answer
Olfaction
Smell is the one sense whose pathway goes from the olfactory bulb to the cortex without a thalamic relay. Vision is relayed through the thalamus on its way to the occipital lobe. Hearing is relayed through the thalamus to the temporal lobe. Touch is relayed through the thalamus to the postcentral gyrus.
Category: Cerebrum and Diencephalon
Question 10
Which part of the brain contains the cardiovascular centers that regulate heart rate and blood pressure?
Midbrain
Medulla oblongata
✓
Cerebellum
Thalamus
Correct Answer
Medulla oblongata
The medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brain stem, contains centers that regulate cardiovascular and respiratory function. Midbrain contains visual and auditory reflex centers and the cerebral aqueduct. Cerebellum coordinates and corrects movement. Thalamus relays sensory information to the cortex.
Category: Brain Stem and Cerebellum
Question 11
Which paired midbrain structures coordinate visual reflexes, such as turning the head and eyes toward something that moves?
Inferior colliculi
Cerebral peduncles
Superior colliculi
✓
Mammillary bodies
Correct Answer
Superior colliculi
The superior colliculi form the upper pair of bumps on the tectum of the midbrain and orient the head and eyes toward visual stimuli. Inferior colliculi are the lower pair and are part of the auditory pathway. Cerebral peduncles carry descending motor fibers through the midbrain. Mammillary bodies are part of the hypothalamus.
Category: Brain Stem and Cerebellum
Question 12
Which brain region compares descending motor commands with sensory feedback to correct movements as they happen?
Basal nuclei
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Cerebellum
✓
Correct Answer
Cerebellum
The cerebellum receives a copy of motor commands and sensory information about actual movement, then adjusts output to keep movement smooth and accurate. Basal nuclei help initiate and suppress movements. Hippocampus is involved in forming memories. Amygdala is involved in emotion, especially fear.
Category: Brain Stem and Cerebellum
Question 13
Lower motor neurons that innervate skeletal muscles have their cell bodies in which region of the spinal cord gray matter?
Anterior horn
✓
Posterior horn
Lateral horn
Gray commissure
Correct Answer
Anterior horn
The anterior (ventral) horn contains the cell bodies of somatic motor neurons whose axons leave through the ventral root to reach skeletal muscle. Posterior horn receives and processes incoming sensory information. Lateral horn holds autonomic motor neurons. Gray commissure is the thin bridge of gray matter that surrounds the central canal.
Category: Spinal Cord
Question 14
The bundle of spinal nerve roots that continues down the vertebral canal below the end of the spinal cord is called the:
Filum terminale
Cauda equina
✓
Conus medullaris
Denticulate ligament
Correct Answer
Cauda equina
Because the spinal cord is shorter than the vertebral column, the lower nerve roots run downward as a bundle that resembles a horse's tail, the cauda equina. Filum terminale is a strand of pia mater anchoring the cord to the coccyx. Conus medullaris is the tapered lower end of the cord itself. Denticulate ligament is an extension of pia mater that anchors the cord laterally.
Category: Spinal Cord
Question 15
Which delicate membrane adheres directly to the surface of the brain and follows every gyrus and sulcus?
Dura mater
Arachnoid mater
Pia mater
✓
Ependyma
Correct Answer
Pia mater
The pia mater is the innermost meninx, a thin layer that clings to nervous tissue and carries small blood vessels into it. Dura mater is the tough outermost layer attached to the skull. Arachnoid mater is the middle layer and does not dip into the sulci. Ependyma is the cell layer lining the ventricles, not a covering of the outer brain surface.
Category: Meninges and CSF
Question 16
Cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the outer surface of the brain circulates within which space?
Epidural space
Subdural space
Central canal
Subarachnoid space
✓
Correct Answer
Subarachnoid space
The subarachnoid space lies between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater and is filled with circulating cerebrospinal fluid. Epidural space lies outside the dura and in the vertebral canal contains fat and veins. Subdural space is a potential space between the dura and arachnoid. Central canal is the narrow channel inside the spinal cord, not around the brain.
Category: Meninges and CSF
Question 17
Where is cerebrospinal fluid absorbed back into the venous blood?
Arachnoid granulations
✓
Choroid plexuses
Interventricular foramina
Lateral apertures
Correct Answer
Arachnoid granulations
Arachnoid granulations are outpocketings of the arachnoid that project into the dural sinuses, where cerebrospinal fluid passes into the blood. Choroid plexuses produce cerebrospinal fluid rather than absorbing it. Interventricular foramina connect the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle. Lateral apertures let fluid leave the fourth ventricle for the subarachnoid space.
Category: Meninges and CSF
Question 18
Which passage connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle?
Interventricular foramen
Cerebral aqueduct
✓
Central canal
Median aperture
Correct Answer
Cerebral aqueduct
The cerebral aqueduct is a narrow channel running through the midbrain from the third ventricle to the fourth. Interventricular foramen connects each lateral ventricle to the third ventricle. Central canal continues down from the fourth ventricle into the spinal cord. Median aperture opens the fourth ventricle into the subarachnoid space.
Category: Meninges and CSF
Question 19
The two vertebral arteries merge on the anterior surface of the brain stem to form which single artery?
Internal carotid artery
Middle cerebral artery
Basilar artery
✓
Anterior communicating artery
Correct Answer
Basilar artery
After entering the skull through the foramen magnum, the vertebral arteries join to form the basilar artery, which supplies the brain stem and cerebellum and contributes to the circle of Willis. Internal carotid artery is a separate paired vessel entering through the carotid canal. Middle cerebral artery is a branch of the internal carotid. Anterior communicating artery links the two anterior cerebral arteries.
Category: Blood Supply
Question 20
Which cranial nerve controls the muscles of the tongue?
Glossopharyngeal nerve
Vagus nerve
Facial nerve
Hypoglossal nerve
✓
Correct Answer
Hypoglossal nerve
The hypoglossal nerve, cranial nerve XII, is a motor nerve to the tongue muscles. Glossopharyngeal nerve, cranial nerve IX, serves the throat and carries taste from the back of the tongue. Vagus nerve, cranial nerve X, serves thoracic and abdominal organs as well as the pharynx and larynx. Facial nerve, cranial nerve VII, controls the muscles of facial expression.
Category: Peripheral Nervous System