Neurophysiology Midterm 2 Review

The tactile and proprioceptive pathway for the upper body (arms) decussate in ____________, then that second-order neuron travels onward to synapse in the ____________.

• medulla, thalamus (VPL)

• spinal cord, medulla

• thalamus (VPM), cortex of parietal lobe (3, 1, 2)

• that pathway does not decussate

Which of the following is NOT true?

• Taste receptors are capable of producing membrane potential changes

• Taste receptors are neurons that are capable of producing action potentials

• Information from the solitary nucleus is relayed to the ventral posterior medial nucleus of the thalamus as part of the perceptual pathway for taste

• The receptor for the olfactory pathway is both a receptor and a nerve fiber cell body with no separate ganglion

The olfactory tract synapses at the olfactory cortex on the parahippocampal gyrus, which corresponds with Brodmann area(s) ____________.

• 42, 22

• 28

• 17

• 44,45

Which structure transmits vibration from air to liquid?

• Oval window

• Round window

• Tympanic membrane

Which of the following “reflex” systems and corresponding tracts is responsible for compensatory movements of the head and neck?

• Vestibulospinal; medial vestibulospinal tract

• Vestibulospinal; lateral vestibulospinal tract

• Vestibulo-cerebellar; medial longitudinal fasciculus

• Vestibulo-ocular; medial longitudinal fasciculus

The first synapse in the spinothalamic tract occurs when the first order neuron meets with which of the following structures:

• Substantia Gelatinosa

• Ventral Medial Lateral Nucleus

• Ventral Posterior Lateral nucleus

• Cuneate nucleus

A lesion in the spinothalamic pathway at the level of the left medulla would be most likely to cause deficits in pain and temperature sensation in which of the following parts of the body:

• Left Arm

• Right Leg

• Left Ear

• Right Forehead

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding the motor reflexes?

• There are 3 types of reflexes: stretch (myotatic), tendon (inverse-myotatic), and flexor (withdrawal).

• The stretch and tendon reflexes work in opposition to one another.

• The stretch reflex causes monosynaptic excitation of the homonymous motor neuron, causing inhibition of the antagonist muscle.

• The flexor reflex causes polysynaptic excitation of extensors and inhibition of flexors, causing opposite effects contralaterally.

Which of the following is CORRECTLY matched?

• Sour - Quinine - highest threshold

• Salt - NaCl - lowest threshold

• Sweet - Sucrose - highest threshold

• Bitter - HCl - lowest threshold

Which of the following is FALSE regarding the spinothalamic and trigeminothalamic tracts?

• The substantia gelatinosa receives input from free nerve endings, mechano-receptors, and the brain before sending a signal to the brain via the spinothalamic tract

• Unlike the spinothalamic tract, the reflex mechanisms of the trigeminothalamic tract require cortical input

• The thalamic relay of the trigeminothalamic tract is located in the ventral posterior medial nucleus

• Thermoreceptors that respond to warm temperature are generally type IV and depolarize in response to a decrease in rigidity of the cell membrane