Chapter 12 Mastering A&P

During meningitis, which of the following layers is the most likely to be a direct source of pathogens that may spread to the brain?

Pia Mater

How do tracts and nerves differ? How do nuclei and ganglia differ?

Tracts and nuclei are in the CNS; nerves and ganglia are in the PNS.

After Joe has a stroke, his doctor asks Joe to touch his right pointer finger to his chin, but Joe is unable to move his right hand. However, when the doctor stimulates Joe's pointer finger with a painful stimulus, Joe's muscles quickly move his hand away from the stimulus. The doctor concludes that ______.

based on the doctor's observations, none of the listed answers are correct conclusions

Which type of tract connects the two hemispheres of the cerebrum?

commissural tracts Commissural tracts, the largest of which is the corpus callosum, connect the cerebral hemispheres.

At age 79, Mrs. X is diagnosed with a disorder that severely impairs her logical judgment. Medical imaging techniques show that this has been most likely caused by brain damage in a ______.

frontal lobe The frontal lobe has areas that control voluntary motor functions, mood, smell, and social judgment.

Which of the following is NOT a correctly matched pair?

gray matter: myelinated axons Gray matter is indicative of unmyelinated axons and cell bodies in the CNS.

Which brain structure is most responsible for interacting with and controlling the endocrine system?

hypothalamus

Which part of the brain stem houses the reflex centers for respiration and cardiovascular functioning?

medulla oblongata The medulla contains many important functional groups of visceral motor nuclei, including the cardiovascular (CV) and respiratory centers. The CV center includes the cardiac center, which adjusts the force and rate of heart contraction to meet the body's needs, and the vasomotor center, which changes blood vessel diameter to regulate blood pressure. The respiratory centers generate the respiratory rhythm and (in concert with pontine centers) control the rate and depth of breathing. The olivary nuclei and cough, sneezing, swallowing, and vomiting centers are also in the medulla.

Which of the following form(s) the walls of the fourth ventricle?

pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum

Which functional area of the brain is responsible for our level of awareness and alertness?

reticular activating system The reticular activating system is responsive to our sensory input and controls alertness to these sensory inputs and our awareness and responsiveness to our external (and internal) environment.

Which structure of the brain is most responsible for acting as a relay station to sort and send incoming signals to the cerebral cortex?

thalamus