Deck 1: Introduction to the Nervous System

Question 1

A 47-year-old business executive is referred to a gastroenterologist after complaining of "burning pain" in the epigastric region. He indicates that the pain becomes more severe when he eats but is relieved after he drinks a glass of milk. Physical examination indicates that the abdomen is distended and tender in the umbilical region. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination of this patient would most likely reveal which of the following?

A) Duodenal ulcer
B) Ulcerative colitis
C) Esophageal varicosis
D) Gastric ulcer
E) Diverticulitis

Answer 1

D

Question 2

During the exam of a 7-year-old girl her optometrist notices that her left eye does not constrict as the light from the ophthalmoscope is moved in front of her eye. A lesion in which of the following structures would most likely account for this observation?

A) Facial motor nucleus
B) Otic ganglion
C) Cervical sympathetic trunk
D) Ciliary ganglion
E) Dorsal motor nucleus of X

Answer 2

D

Question 3

A 25-year-old woman suffered severe brain injury after her commuter train derailed. For weeks after the impact, she experienced episodes of agitation, dystonia, tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperthermia. Her caretakers note that the events are triggered by the doorbell, telephone, and alarm clocks. The symptoms experienced by this woman are mostly likely caused by which of the following?

A) Increased parasympathetic activity
B) Decreased parasympathetic activity
C) Increased sympathetic activity
D) Decreased sympathetic activity

Answer 3

C

Question 4

In which of the following spinal levels are the cell bodies of these fibers located?

A) T4-T8
B) S3-S5
C) L5-S2
D) S2-S4
E) T9-12

Question 5

Damage to the posterior and lateral zones of the hypothalamus would most likely result in which of the following?

A) Increased heart rate
B) Peripheral vasodilation
C) Pupillary dilation
D) Decreased gut peristalsis
E) Closing of sphincters

Question 6

Which of the following is responsible for stimulating gastric acid secretion?

A) Glossopharyngeal nerve
B) Vagus nerve
C) Trigeminal nerve
D) Great splanchnic nerve
E) Anterior primary rami T5-T9

Question 7

General visceral afferent fibers from the abdominal viscera have their third-order cell bodies located in which of the following?

A) Posterior root ganglion
B) Spinal laminae III-V
C) Mesencephalic nucleus
D) Gracile nucleus
E) Ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus

Question 8

A 62-year-old man with a history of hypertension complains to his urologist of a decreased ability to develop an erection. Parasympathetic fibers from which of the following nerves elicit erectile response?

A) Pelvic splanchnic
B) Greater splanchnic
C) Lesser splanchnic
D) Lumbar splanchnic

Question 9

Which of the following is the most rostral parasympathetic nucleus in the brainstem?

A) Superior salivary
B) Edinger-Westphal
C) Abducens
D) Otic
E) Interior salivary