Biology

Nervous System Physiology

1,959 Questions

Enhance your knowledge of human neurobiology through questions on nervous system physiology. The topics cover brain anatomy, sensory modalities, and the neural mechanisms controlling speech and language. This resource is ideal for students preparing for medical and general science exams.

Brain anatomy and regionsNeural mechanismsLanguage processingSensory functions

Nervous System Physiology Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following regions of the midbrain is involved in producing a decrease in the hearing acuity?

  1. Superior colliculus

  2. Inferior colliculus

  3. Red nucleus

  4. Medial lemniscus

  5. Substantia nigra
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The inferior colliculus is a relay nucleus for hearing located in the tectum of the midbrain. The cochlear nuclei send axons through the lateral lemniscus to reach the inferior colliculus. Axons from the colliculus travel to the medial geniculate.

Multiple choice

An old man suffered from stroke, which damaged his right cerebral peduncle, resulting in a loss of motor control on the left side of his body. Due to the close proximity of a cranial nerve to the cerebral peduncles, his attending doctor suspects that dysfunction would also occur in

  1. smell

  2. visual acuity in the right eye

  3. motor control of the right eye muscles

  4. sensation from the right side of the forehead

  5. motor control of the right facial muscles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The oculomotor nerve (III) is closely associated with the cerebral peduncles. A stroke in this region can produce losses in both structures (superior alternating hemiplegia or Weber's syndrome).

Multiple choice

A 67-years-old female has a stroke that impacts on her lateral thalamus and the adjacent white matter tract, the internal capsule. The loss of the internal capsule results in which of the following defects?

  1. Contralateral loss of vision

  2. Ipsilateral loss of hearing

  3. Contralateral loss of hearing

  4. Ipsilateral loss of descending skeletal motor control

  5. Contralateral loss of descending skeletal motor control
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The internal capsule contains contralateral descending upper motor axons from the cortex to the brainstem and spinal cord (corticospinal, corticobulbar and corticopontine tracts). It also contains contralateral third or fourth order sensory axons from the thalamus to the cortex that carry general sensation (fine touch, proprioception, pain and temperature). The internal capsule does not contain axons for the special sensations of vision or hearing.

Multiple choice

In which of the following nuclei of the brain are the second order cell bodies for taste sensation found?

  1. Nucleus ambiguous

  2. Nucleus solitarius

  3. Spinal trigeminal nucleus

  4. Nucleus gracilis

  5. Nucleus cuneatus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The rostral nucleus solitarius (gustatory nucleus) contains the second order cell bodies for taste sensation from the facial nerve (VII) (chorda tympani), glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) and the vagus nerve (X).

Multiple choice

In a human brain, the emetic centre is a region outside the blood-brain barrier. It allows toxins in the blood to be sensed and vomiting can be induced. It is found in which of the following parts of the brain?

  1. Reticular formation

  2. Raphe nucleus

  3. Locus ceruleus

  4. Area postrema

  5. Inferior olive
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is correct. The area postrema is found adjacent to the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve in the posterior aspect of medulla oblongata next to the fourth ventricle. It functions as an emetic centre, sensing toxins and initiating vomiting to help remove the toxins from the gastrointestinal system.

Multiple choice

What is the bundle of nerve fibres that connect the two cerebral hemispheres of the brain called?

  1. Corpus callosum

  2. Cerebral ventricles

  3. Neuroglia

  4. Cerebral cortex

  5. Arachnoid mater
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the cerebrum into left and right hemispheres. It connects the left and right sides of the brain allowing for communication between both hemispheres. The corpus callosum transfers motor, sensory and cognitive information between the brain hemispheres.

Multiple choice

Impulses originated in the taste buds of the tongue cover their journey through the cerebral cortex via

  1. thalamus

  2. internal capsule

  3. trochlear nerve

  4. hypoglossal nerve
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It lies between the cerebral cortex and midbrain. Its prominent function includes relaying sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, along with the regulation of consciousness, sleep and alertness. Impulses originated in the taste buds of the tongue cover their journey through the cerebral cortex via. thalamus.

Multiple choice

The blood circulation is under the control of nervous system. Which one is true regarding the nervous regulation of the circulation?

  1. Baroreceptors are authorative for the long-term regulation of systemic blood pressure.

  2. If the arterial pressure of a person suddenly falls, the baroreceptor reflex accelerates the heart rate.

  3. The baroreceptors lie in the aortic and carotid bodies.

  4. The coronary blood flow is controlled by the cardiac volume receptors.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This statement is correct. The most important function of the baroreceptor reflex is to stabilize perfusion pressure in the face of disturbances of circulatory homeostasis.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is correct regarding the control of the vasculature?

  1. Autoregulation signifies to nervous control of the blood vessels.

  2. Reactive hyperemia originates as a result of vasodilatation caused by accumulation of metabolites during exercise.

  3. Parasympathetic vasodilator fibers activate the blood vessels of the exocrine glands of the gastrointestinal tract.

  4. The diameter of the arterioles is completely regulated by the sympathetic nervous system only.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parasympathetic vasodilator fibers pertain to the craniosacral division of the autonomic nervous system. These fibers activate the blood vessels of the exocrine glands of the gastrointestinal tract.

Multiple choice

Adjusting the postural muscles of the body and compiling voluntary and involuntary movements are indispensible functions of which component of the brain?

  1. Thalamus

  2. Hypothalamus

  3. Cerebellum

  4. Cerebrum
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Cerebellum lies at the lower back of the head being connected to the brain stem. It is the second largest structure of the brain and is made up of two hemispheres. The cerebellum controls complex motor functions such as walking, balance, posture, and general motor co-ordination including voluntary and involuntary movements.

Multiple choice

How many cerebral hemispheres are present in human brain?

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

  4. Four
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The human brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres (left and right), connected by the corpus callosum. Option B is correct. This bilateral structure is fundamental to brain organization. Options A, C, and D are incorrect - humans have exactly two hemispheres, not one, three, or four.