12. The Central Nervous System

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

(a) The cerebellum

(b) The substantia nigra

(c) Association fibers

(d) The hypothalamus

Why must a cell body be intact for an axon to regenerate? (Hint: What structure is housed only in the cell body, and what are its functions?)

Phagocytic cells in nervous tissue of the CNS are:

(a) Astrocytes

(b) Ependymal cells

(c) Oligodendrocytes

(d) Microglia.

Mark the following statements about the spinal cord as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

The spinal cord functions as a relay and processing station.

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?

Which is the innermost delicate meningeal layer?

Mark the following statements as true or false. If the statement is false, correct it to make it a true statement.

Axons arise from the axon hillock.

The pineal gland is located in the:

a. Hypothalamus

b. Mesencephalon

c. Epithalamus

d. Corpus callosum

Mark the following statements on the role of the brain in movement as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement. 

The basal nuclei inhibit inappropriate movements and are required for the initiation of movement. 

An axon is best defined as a process that:

a. Transmits signals only toward the cell body.

b. Can generate action potentials.

c. Transmits signals only away from the cell body.

d. Cannot generate action potentials

Damage to the vestibular nucleus would lead to

(a) Loss of sight

(b) Loss of hearing

(c) Inability to sense pain

(d) Difficulty in maintaining balance

(e) Inability to swallow

Two major cell groups make up the nervous system—neurons and supporting cells such as astrocytes and Schwann cells. Which are 'nervous' cells?

Why? What are the major functions of the other cell group?

Describe the spinal cord, depicting its extent, its composition of gray and white matter, and its spinal roots.

What does lateralization of cortical functioning mean?

Why is the term cerebral dominance a misnomer?

A 10-month-old infant has an enlarging head circumference and delayed overall development. Her CSF pressure is elevated, and she has a bulging anterior fontanelle (fontanelles are the as yet unossified fibrous membranes connecting skull bones in infants). Based on these findings, answer the following questions:

a. What are the possible cause(s) of an enlarged head?

b. Which tests might be helpful in obtaining information about this infant's problem?

c. Assuming the tests conducted showed the cerebral aqueduct to be constricted, which ventricles or CSF-containing areas would you expect to be enlarged? Which would likely not be visible? Respond to the same questions based on a finding of obstructed arachnoid granulations.