Neuroanatomy
A lesion to which area most commonly results in expressive (Broca’s) aphasia?
A. Wernicke’s area
B. Broca’s area
C. Angular gyrus
D. Primary auditory cortex
E. Supramarginal gyrus
B. Broca’s area
Which ion is primarily responsible for depolarisation of the neuronal membrane?
A. K⁺ efflux
B. Ca²⁺ efflux
C. Na⁺ influx
D. Cl⁻ influx
E. Mg²⁺ influx
C. Na⁺ influx
Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson’s disease?
A. GABA
B. Glutamate
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
E. Acetylcholine
C. Dopamine
Which type of stroke is caused by rupture of small penetrating arteries?
A. Embolic
B. Large-vessel occlusion
C. Lacunar
D. Watershed
E. Venous infarct
C. Lacunar
Which cranial nerve controls lateral eye movement?
A. III
B. IV
C. V
D. VI
E. VIII
Answer: D (Abducens)
Damage to the dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway results in loss of:
A. Pain and temperature
B. Fine touch and proprioception
C. Motor function
D. Auditory perception
E. Vision
B. Fine touch and proprioception
Saltatory conduction occurs due to:
A. GABAergic inhibition
B. Voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels
C. Nodes of Ranvier
D. Dendritic branching
E. Increased neurotransmitter release
C. Nodes of Ranvier
Which drug is used as first-line treatment for absence seizures?
A. Carbamazepine
B. Valproate
C. Ethosuximide
D. Phenytoin
E. Lamotrigine
C. Ethosuximide
A 70-year-old with progressive memory loss and hippocampal atrophy likely has accumulation of:
A. α-synuclein
B. Tau and β-amyloid
C. Prions
D. TDP-43
E. Huntingtin protein
B. Tau and β-amyloid
A positive Romberg’s test suggests impairment of:
A. Vision
B. Proprioception
C. Cerebellum
D. Basal ganglia
E. Vestibular nuclei
B. Proprioception
The internal capsule carries motor fibres. A lesion in the posterior limb causes:
A. Paralysis of facial muscles only
B. Contralateral hemiparesis
C. Loss of pain sensation only
D. Ipsilateral cerebellar signs
E. Homonymous hemianopia
B. Contralateral hemiparesis
Which receptor type is FAST and ligand-gated?
A. GABA-B
B. NMDA
C. AMPA
D. Dopamine D2
E. Adenosine A1
C. AMPA
Benzodiazepines act by enhancing the effect of:
A. Glutamate
B. GABA-A receptors
C. Dopamine
D. Serotonin
E. Noradrenaline
B. GABA-A receptors
Which tumour commonly presents with “butterfly” spread across the corpus callosum?
A. Meningioma
B. Schwannoma
C. Glioblastoma multiforme
D. Medulloblastoma
E. Pituitary adenoma
C. Glioblastoma multiforme
Which seizure type has no loss of consciousness?
A. Absence
B. Tonic-clonic
C. Myoclonic
D. Focal aware
E. Atonic
D. Focal aware
Which structure connects the hippocampus to the mammillary bodies?
A. Fornix
B. Internal capsule
C. Cingulum
D. Corona radiata
E. Corpus callosum
A. Fornix
Hyperpolarisation occurs when:
A. Na⁺ channels open
B. Ca²⁺ channels open
C. K⁺ channels close
D. K⁺ channels open
E. More Na⁺ enters the cell
D. K⁺ channels open
Which drug inhibits acetylcholinesterase and is used in Alzheimer’s disease?
A. Haloperidol
B. Levodopa
C. Donepezil
D. Fluoxetine
E. Propranolol
C. Donepezil
Multiple sclerosis is characterised by:
A. Loss of dopaminergic neurons
B. Autoimmune demyelination in the CNS
C. Autoimmune attack on NMJ
D. Degeneration of motor neurons
E. Degeneration of basal ganglia
B. Autoimmune demyelination in the CNS
A unilateral dilated “blown” pupil is most concerning for:
A. Stroke
B. Cluster headache
C. Uncal herniation
D. Myasthenia gravis
E. Bell’s palsy
C. Uncal herniation
A patient has intention tremor, dysmetria and dysdiadochokinesia. Where is the lesion?
A. Basal ganglia
B. Cerebellar hemispheres
C. Motor cortex
D. Thalamus
E. Brainstem reticular formation
B. Cerebellar hemispheres
An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) is most associated with:
A. Na⁺ influx
B. Cl⁻ influx
C. K⁺ channel closure
D. Ca²⁺ influx
E. Glutamate release
B. Cl⁻ influx
An adverse effect strongly linked to lamotrigine is:
A. Weight gain
B. Hearing loss
C. Steven-Johnson syndrome
D. Bradycardia
E. Constipation
C. Steven-Johnson syndrome
Subarachnoid haemorrhage classically presents with:
A. Gradual headache
B. Thunderclap headache
C. Unilateral facial weakness
D. Progressive confusion
E. Fever and neck stiffness only
B. Thunderclap headache
A 55-year-old has resting tremor, bradykinesia, and shuffling gait. Which pathway is disrupted?
A. Indirect basal ganglia pathway
B. Direct basal ganglia pathway
C. Cerebellar vermis
D. Spinocerebellar tract
E. Dorsal column
Answer: B (loss of dopamine → decreased direct pathway act