Pathways
What is the name of the sensory pathway responsible for pain and temperature?
Anterolateral System
Where is the primary somatosensory cortex located in the brain?
It is located in the post-central gyrus. Somatotopic organization follows as such medial to lateral: feet, legs, arms, hands, face.
What is the name of the structure where the optic nerve crosses over to the other side of the brain?
The Optic Chiasm
What is the name of the longest nerve in the human body?
The Sciatic Nerve
What does the basal ganglia control?
Its primary function is motor control. Evidence has shown that it also has functions in cognition and rewards.
Is the Lateral Corticospinal Motor Tract Contralateral or Ipsilateral?
Contralateral
What region of the brain is responsible for movement of the feet?
The primary motor cortex is in the pre-central gyrus. The medial aspect of this controls movement of the feet.
What are the names of the 3 bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations to the inner ear?
The Malleus, Incus, and Stapes
Which cranial nerve primarily innervates the gastrointestinal system, contributing to functions such as peristalsis?
The Vagus Nerve
Of the cerebellar peduncles, which one carries information out of the cerebellum.
The superior cerebellar peduncle carries information from the cerebellum to the midbrain and diencephalon.
In the visual pathway, which hemiretinae cross at the Optic Chiasm?
Nasal Hemiretinae
At what structure does the lateral corticospinal tract decussate?
The lateral corticospinal tract carries voluntary motor signals to the contralateral side of the body. The point at which it switches sides is the pyramids located in the medulla.
An injury to the right optic tract results in what specific visual deficit?
Loss of peripheral vision in left visual field and loss of central vision in the right visual field
What two nerves branch from the sciatic?
Fibular and Tibial
What function is the ventral striatum associated with?
This part of the limbic system is associated with reward processing.
The cuneocereballar tract and enters the Cerebellum through which structure?
Inferior Cerebellar Peduncle
Respectively, what type of information passes through the gracile and cuneate nuclei?
Both are part of the dorsal column lateral lemniscus pathway and carry mechanosensory information. The gracile nucleus carries information from the legs and the cuneate nucleus carries information from the arms.
Identify the missing structure in this pathway: Anterior Olfactory Nucleus → Amygdala → Olfactory Tubercle → X → Orbitofrontal Cortex.
X = The Piriform Cortex
The radial nerve originates from which cord of the brachial plexus?
The Posterior Cord
What are the nuclear divisions of the amygdala and their respective functions?
Basolateral nuclei → emotional initiation and emotional learning, Central nuclei → emotional behavior and behavior responses, Cortical nuclei → olfaction (directly connects with the olfactory bulb)
In the Basal Ganglia Circuitry, which structure directly stimulates the Globus Pallidus internal segment?
The Subthalamic Nucleus
In a patient that suffers a gunshot injury to the right half of the spinal cord at the level of the belly button, where would you expect them to lose somatosensory function and motor function?
Motor function would be lost at the point of injury and below on the right side. The same would be found for tactile and limb position senses. Pain and temperature senses would be lost on the left side slightly below the point of injury as the anterolateral system crosses at the level of the spinal cord in an upward angle.
The Dorsal Cochlear Nuclei skips which structure when propagating its signal?
The Superior Olivary Complex
Which cranial nerve originates from the dorsal/posterior surface of the brainstem, making it unique among cranial nerves?
Trochlear Nerve
Loss of D2 neurons in the basal ganglia leads to the activation of which parts of the brain and causes which disease?
Within the basal ganglia circuitry, loss of D2 neurons leads to overactivation of the global pallidus internal segment and substantia nigra reticulata. This will lead to the development of Huntington's Disease.