Chapter 14 Review Questions

What are the three important functions of the CSF?

1.cushioning delicate neural structures 2.supporting the brain 3.transporting nutrients, chemical messengers, and waste products

Which three areas in the brain are not isolated from the general circulation by the BBB?

1.portions of the hypothalamus where the capillary endothelium is extremely permeable 2.capillaries in the pineal gland 3.capillaries at the choroid plexus

If symptoms characteristic of Parkinson's disease appear, which part of the midbrain is inhibited from secreting a neurotransmitter? Which neurotransmitter is it?

In parkinson's disease, the substantia nigra is inhibited from secreting the neurotransmitter, dopamine, at the basal nuclei.

Using the mnemonic device "oh, once one takes the anatomy final, very good vacations are heavenly," list the names of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

N I: olfactory nerve N II: optic nerve N III: oculomotor nerve N IV: trochlear nerve N V: trigeminal nerve N VI: abducens nerve N VII: facial nerve N VIII: vestibulocochlear nerve N IX: glossopharyngeal nerve N X: vagus nerve N XI: accessory nerve N XII: hypoglossal nerve

The centers in the pons that modify the activity of the respiratory rhythmicity centers in the medulla oblongata are the

apneustic and pneumotaxic centers

Which of the following is the site of cerebrospinal fluid production?

choroid plexus

Damage to the vestibular nucleus would lead to

difficulty in maintaining balance

Cerebrospinal fluid is produced and secreted by

ependymal cells

The dural fold that divides the two cerebellar hemispheres is the

falx cerebelli

Cerebral meningitis is a condition in which the meninges of the brain become inflamed as the result of viral or bacterial infection. This condition can be life threatening. Why?

in any inflamed tissue, edema occurs in the area of inflammation. the accumulation of fluid in the subarachnoid space can cause damage by pressing against neurons. if the intracranial pressure is excessive, brain damage can occur, and if the pressure involves vital autonomic reflexes areas, death could occur.

Colleen falls down a flight of stairs and bumps her head several times. Soon after, she develops a headache and blurred vision. Diagnostic tests at the hospital reveal an epidural hematoma in the temporoparietal area. The hematoma is pressing against the brain stem. What other signs and symptoms might she experienced as a result of the injury?

increasing pressure in the cranium could compress important blood vessels, leading to further brain damage in areas not directly affected by the hematoma. pressure on the brain stem could disrupt vital respiratory, cardiovascular, and vasomotor functions and possibly death. pressure on the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves would lead to drooping eyelids and dilated pupils. pressure on descending motor tracts would impair muscle function and decrease muscle tone in the affected areas of the body.

The primary purpose of the BBB is to

isolate neural tissue in the CNS from the general circulation

What kinds of problems are associated with the presence of lesions in the Wernicke's area and the Broca's area?

lesions in the general interpretive area(Wernicke's area, sensory) produce defective visual and auditory comprehension of language, repetition of spoken sentences, and defective naming of objects. lesions in speech center(Broca's area, motor) result in hesitant and distorted speech.

The establishment of emotional states is a function of the

limbic system

Stimulation of which part of the brain would produce sensations of hunger and thirst?

stimulation of the feeding and thirst centers of the hypothalamus would produce sensations of hunger and thirst.

The final relay point for ascending sensory information that will be projected to the primary sensory cortex is the

thalamus

A cerebrovascular accident occurs when

the blood supply to a portion of the brain is cut off

Why can the brain respond to stimuli with greater versatility than the spinal cord?

the brain can respond with greater versatility because it includes many more interneurons, pathways, and connections than the tracts of the spinal cord.

Coordination of learned movement patterns at the subconscious level is performed by

the cerebellum

Briefly summarize the overall functions of the cerebellum.

the cerebellum adjusts voluntary and involuntary motor activities based on sensory information and stored memories of previous experiences

The term higher brain centers refers to those areas of the brain involved in higher-order functions. These centers would probably include nuclei, centers, and cortical areas of

the cerebrum, the cerebellum, the diencephalon

What are the principal functional differences between the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum?

the left hemisphere contains the general interpretive and speech centers and is responsible for performing analytical tasks, for logical decision-making for language-based skills(reading, writing, and speaking). the right hemisphere analyzes sensory information and relates the body to the sensory environment. interpretive centers in this hemisphere permit the identification of familiar objects by touch, smell, sight ,taste, or feel. the right hemisphere is also important in understanding three-dimensional relationships and in analyzing the emotional context of a conversation.

A police officer has just stopped bill on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. The officer asks bill to walk the yellow line on the road and then to place the tip of his index finger on the tip of his nose. How would these activities indicate bill's level of sobriety? Which part of the brain is being tested by these activities?

the officer is testing the function of bill's cerebellum. many drugs, including alcohol, have pronounced effects on cerebellar function. a person who is under the influence of alcohol cannot properly anticipate the range and speed of limb movement, because processing and correction by the cerebellum are slow. as a result, bill might have a difficult time walking a straight line or touching his finger to his nose.

Which structure in the brain would your A&P instructor be referring to when talking about a nucleus that resembles a sea horse and that appears to be important in the storage and retrieval of long-term memories? In which functional system of the brain is it located?

this nucleus is the hippocampus, which is part of the limbic system.

The pons contains

tracts that link the cerebellum with the brain stem

The two cerebral hemispheres are functionally different, even though anatomically they appear the same

true

Smelling salts can sometime help restore consciousness after a person has fainted. The active ingredient of smelling salts is ammonia, and it acts by irritating the lining of the nasal cavity. Propose a mechanism by which smelling salts would raise a person from the unconscious state to the conscious state.

Sensory innervation of the nasal mucosa occurs via the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve(N V). irritation of the nasal lining by ammonia increases the frequency of action potentials along the maxillary branch of the trigeminal nerve through the semilunar ganglion to reach centers in the midbrain, which in turn excite the neurons of the reticular activating system(RAS). increased activity by the RAS can bring the cerebrum back to consciousness.

Infants have little to no control of the movements of their head. One of the consequences of this is that they are susceptible to shaken baby syndrome, caused by vigorous shaking of an infant or young child by the arms, legs, chest, or shoulders. Forceful shaking can cause brain damage leading to mental retardation, speech and learning disabilities, paralysis, seizures, hearing loss, and even death. Damage to which areas of the brain would account for the clinical signs observed in this syndrome?

most of the functional problems observed in shaken baby syndrome are the result of trauma to the cerebral hemispheres due to contact between the brain and the inside of the skull. Damage to and distortion of the brain stem and medulla oblongata can cause death. damage to the frontal lobe can cause personality issuses such as mental retardation. Damage to the occiptal lobe can cause loss of eye sight.

The only cranial nerves that are attached to the cerebrum are the ___ nerves.

olfactory

What varied roles does the hypothalamus play in the body?

roles of hypothalamus include 1.subconscious control of skeletal muscle contractions 2.control of autonomic functions 3.coordination of nervous and endocrine systems 4.secretion of hormones 5.production of emotions and drives 6.coordination of autonomic and voluntary functions 7.regulation of body temperature 8.control of circadian rhythms