PHPH 701 Motor Systems

Following a strenuous workout with his neighborhood team, a right-handed, 52-year-old former professional basketball player awoke the next morning with paralysis of his right lower extremity. A neurological exam revealed an exaggerated stretch reflex. Where is the problem most likely to be localized?

• A. Anterior (ventral) horn, right side.

• B. Anterior (ventral) horn, left side.

• C. Posterior (dorsal) columns of spinal cord, right side.

• D. Left motor cortex, lateral (inferior) portion of motor map.

• E. Left motor cortex, medial (superior) portion of motor map.

Following a family vacation, a hypertensive 41-year-old man presents with a unilateral lesion of the ventral pons, involving fibers of the facial (VII) cranial nerve and the descending fibers of the CST. This lesion would most likely result in which constellation of symptoms below?

• A. Contralateral facial muscle weakness (CN VII palsy) + Contralateral hemiparesis of the upper and lower extremities

• B. Contralateral facial muscle weakness (CN VII palsy) + Contralateral hemiparesis of only the upper extremities

• C. Contralateral facial muscle weakness (CN VII palsy) + Ipsilateral hemiparesis of the upper and lower extremities

• D. Ipsilateral facial muscle weakness (CN VII palsy) + Ipsilateral hemiparesis of only the upper extremities

• E. Ipsilateral facial muscle weakness (CN VII palsy) + Contralateral hemiparesis of the upper and lower extremities

Which of the following is an example of lower motor neuron dysfunction?

• A – An individual sits in a relaxed position with her knee partially flexed. When her foot is pulled upward, the individual involuntarily and rhythmically moves her foot up and down.

• B - An individual is told to relax her body. Despite attempts to relax, she experiences repeated, uncontrollable muscle spasticity.

• C – A metal object is dragged along the bottom of an individual’s foot and her toes go into extension away from the bottom of her foot.

• D - An individual is told to lift her left arm, and she has difficulty doing so. Her left arm appears shriveled and shorter than her right arm.

All the following statements about the basal ganglia are correct EXCEPT:

• A. Dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra signal unexpected reward or unexpected absence of reward.

• B. The basal ganglia have both motor and cognitive functions.

• C. The subthalamic nucleus is the origin of the only purely excitatory pathway within the basal ganglia intrinsic circuitry.

• D. The net effect of excitation of the direct pathway is to inhibit the motor cortex.

• E. Parkinson's disease results from damage to the basal ganglia.

All of the following are examples of dyskinesia EXCEPT:

• A. Athetosis

• B. Chorea

• C. Tremors

• D. Rigidity

• E. Ballismus

The dyskinesias identified above result from a deficit of which basal ganglia pathway?

• A. Direct

• B. Indirect

• C. Nigrostriatal

• D. These conditions do not result from basal ganglia damage

The spinocerebellum contains the:

• A. Vermal and paravermal zones of the anterior and posterior lobes.

• B. Vermal and floccular zones of the flocculonodular lobe.

• C. Lateral portions of the cerebellum.

• D. Posterior lobe and interposed nuclei.

• E. Anterior lobe and dentate nuclei.