NPLEX 1 LATEST 2026 MAIN EXAMINATIO SET QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Name the foramina each of the nerves goes through:
1. olfactory
2. optic
3. oculomotor
4. trochlear
5. a) ophthalmic branch of trigeminal
5. b) maxillary branch of trigeminal
5. c) mandibular branch of trigeminal
6. abducens
7. facial
8. vestibulocochlear
9. glossopharyngeal
10. vagus
11. accessory - ✔✔1. cribriform plate/ olfactory forminia (ethmoid bone)
2. optical canal (sphenoid)
3. superior orbital fissure (sphenoid)
4. superior orbital fissure
5. (a-ophthalmic branch) superior orbital fissure
6. superior orbital fissure
5. (b- Maxillary branch) foramen rotundum (sphenoid)
5. (c- mandibular branch) formen ovale (sphenoid)
7. internal acoustic meatus (temporal and stylomastoid process)
8. internal acoustic meatus
9. jugular foramen (bw occipital and temporal)
10. jugular foramen
11. jugular foramen
12. hypoglossal canal (occipital)
✔✔Name the formina each of these structures go through:
-main trunk of the middle meningeal artery
-internal jugular vein
-internal carotid artery
-vertebral arteries - ✔✔-main trunk of the middle meningeal artery --> foramen
spinosum (sphenoid)
-internal jugular vein --> jugular foramen (bw occipital and temporal)
-internal carotid artery ---> foramen lacerum (bw temporal and sphenoid)
-vertebral arteries --> foramen magnum
✔✔which arteries are in the circle of willis?
-anything cerebellar
or
-anything cerebral? - ✔✔-anything cerebral
,(anything cerebellar = within vertebrobasilar system - post to COW)
✔✔midbrain gives rise to which nerves - ✔✔oculomotor (CN3)
trochlear (CN4)
✔✔the thalamus, the subthalamus, the hypothalamus, and the epithalamus
these structures make up the______ - ✔✔diencephalon
*anythhing w thalamus
✔✔cerebral peduncle is located in - ✔✔midbrain
✔✔pyramid
anterior median fissue
pyramidal decussation
located in the - ✔✔medulla oblongata
✔✔-Gives rise to CN III & IV
-Contains nuclei that are needed for motor function
-Conducts ascending & descending tracts
-Cerebral Aqueduct - small tubular canal in its center which connects ventricles 3& 4,
surrounded by central grey matter
-Cerebral peduncles - upward continuation of mesencephalon into diencephalon &
cerebrum
-Tegmentum - central layer, contains red nucleus - motor function
-Base - cerebral peduncles / crus cerebri
-Substantia nigra divides the peduncles
-structure? - ✔✔midbrain
✔✔blood supply to the midbrain is frim - ✔✔basilar artery
superior cerebellar and posterior communicating arteries
✔✔Tectum - most posteriorly oriented segment containing Tectospinal Pathway
Superior Colliculi - reflex center for _______ stimuli
Inferior colliculi - reflex center for ________ stimuli - ✔✔Superior Colliculi --> visual
Inferior colliculi --> auditory
(Response to unexpected auditory signal by looking quickly)
✔✔-Contains transverse fibers that connect to the cerebellar hemispheres
,-Gives rise to CN V, VI, VII, VIII
-Rhomboid Fossa & Pontine Tegmentum form the floor of the 4th ventricle
-Blood supplied by basilar & cerebellar arteries
-what structure? - ✔✔Pons
✔✔- where all tracts from the spinal cord traverse
-Rest on the Clivus of the sphenoid / occipital bone
-Blood is supplied by branches of the vertebral arteries
-Pyramid - swelling on either side of the median fissure on the anterior side
-Olive - elevation posterior to pyramids produced by olivary nuclei connecting it to the
cerebellum
-Inferior cerebellar peduncles - posterior to olives, connect medulla to cerebellum
-Cuneate & Gracile tubercles / nucleus - fine touch & proprioception
-what structure? - ✔✔medulla oblongata
✔✔diencephalon gives rise to:
midbrain gives rise to:
pons gives rise to:
medulla gives rise to: - ✔✔Diencephalon (non-brainstem) --> CN1&2
midbrain -->CN 3&4
pons --> CN 5,6,7,8
medulla --> CN9,10,11,12
✔✔basilar and cerebellar arteries supply the _____ and ______ but vertebral arteries
supple the ______ - ✔✔midbrain
pons
medulla
✔✔skeletal muscle movement is coordinated by the _______ _____ cortex and
________ _____ area in the ______ lobe - ✔✔-primary motor cortex
-motor association area (premotor contex)
-frontal lobe
✔✔coordinates information from other association areas and controls some behaviours
-what area of the brain and what lobe is it located in? - ✔✔prefrontal association area
frontal lobe
✔✔taste is processed by the _______ cortex which is located in which lobe? -
✔✔gustatory cortex
The insula, which lies deep to the temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes
, ✔✔smell is processed by the ____ cortex which is located in which lobe? - ✔✔olfactory
cortex
temporal lobe
✔✔sensory information from skin, MSK, viscera and taste buds are processed by the
______ _____ _____ cortex and the ______ ______ area in the ______ lobe -
✔✔primary somatic sensory cortex
sensory associated area
parietal lobe
✔✔vision is processed by the _____ ________ are and the ____ cortex in the _____
lobe - ✔✔visual association area
visual cortex
occipital lobe
✔✔hearing is processed by the _____ ______ are and the _____ cortex in the ______
lobe - ✔✔auditory ass. area
auditory cortex
temporal lobe
✔✔precentral gyrus = primary ____ cortex
in the ______ lobe
postcentral gyrus = primary _____ cortex
in the _____ lobe - ✔✔precentral = motor
-frontal lobe
postcentral = sensory
-parietal
✔✔which lobe controls personality, emotional expression, judgement and language -
✔✔frontal lobe
✔✔which lobe controls sensation and integrating sensory input with the visual system /
perception - ✔✔parietal lobe
✔✔name the sulcus'
1. bw frontal and parietal lobes
2. bw temporal, frontal and parietal - ✔✔1. central sulcus
2. lateral sulcus
✔✔-Composed of grey matter
-Medial aspect forms dorsal half of lateral wall of the 3rd ventricle
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Name the foramina each of the nerves goes through:
1. olfactory
2. optic
3. oculomotor
4. trochlear
5. a) ophthalmic branch of trigeminal
5. b) maxillary branch of trigeminal
5. c) mandibular branch of trigeminal
6. abducens
7. facial
8. vestibulocochlear
9. glossopharyngeal
10. vagus
11. accessory - ✔✔1. cribriform plate/ olfactory forminia (ethmoid bone)
2. optical canal (sphenoid)
3. superior orbital fissure (sphenoid)
4. superior orbital fissure
5. (a-ophthalmic branch) superior orbital fissure
6. superior orbital fissure
5. (b- Maxillary branch) foramen rotundum (sphenoid)
5. (c- mandibular branch) formen ovale (sphenoid)
7. internal acoustic meatus (temporal and stylomastoid process)
8. internal acoustic meatus
9. jugular foramen (bw occipital and temporal)
10. jugular foramen
11. jugular foramen
12. hypoglossal canal (occipital)
✔✔Name the formina each of these structures go through:
-main trunk of the middle meningeal artery
-internal jugular vein
-internal carotid artery
-vertebral arteries - ✔✔-main trunk of the middle meningeal artery --> foramen
spinosum (sphenoid)
-internal jugular vein --> jugular foramen (bw occipital and temporal)
-internal carotid artery ---> foramen lacerum (bw temporal and sphenoid)
-vertebral arteries --> foramen magnum
✔✔which arteries are in the circle of willis?
-anything cerebellar
or
-anything cerebral? - ✔✔-anything cerebral
,(anything cerebellar = within vertebrobasilar system - post to COW)
✔✔midbrain gives rise to which nerves - ✔✔oculomotor (CN3)
trochlear (CN4)
✔✔the thalamus, the subthalamus, the hypothalamus, and the epithalamus
these structures make up the______ - ✔✔diencephalon
*anythhing w thalamus
✔✔cerebral peduncle is located in - ✔✔midbrain
✔✔pyramid
anterior median fissue
pyramidal decussation
located in the - ✔✔medulla oblongata
✔✔-Gives rise to CN III & IV
-Contains nuclei that are needed for motor function
-Conducts ascending & descending tracts
-Cerebral Aqueduct - small tubular canal in its center which connects ventricles 3& 4,
surrounded by central grey matter
-Cerebral peduncles - upward continuation of mesencephalon into diencephalon &
cerebrum
-Tegmentum - central layer, contains red nucleus - motor function
-Base - cerebral peduncles / crus cerebri
-Substantia nigra divides the peduncles
-structure? - ✔✔midbrain
✔✔blood supply to the midbrain is frim - ✔✔basilar artery
superior cerebellar and posterior communicating arteries
✔✔Tectum - most posteriorly oriented segment containing Tectospinal Pathway
Superior Colliculi - reflex center for _______ stimuli
Inferior colliculi - reflex center for ________ stimuli - ✔✔Superior Colliculi --> visual
Inferior colliculi --> auditory
(Response to unexpected auditory signal by looking quickly)
✔✔-Contains transverse fibers that connect to the cerebellar hemispheres
,-Gives rise to CN V, VI, VII, VIII
-Rhomboid Fossa & Pontine Tegmentum form the floor of the 4th ventricle
-Blood supplied by basilar & cerebellar arteries
-what structure? - ✔✔Pons
✔✔- where all tracts from the spinal cord traverse
-Rest on the Clivus of the sphenoid / occipital bone
-Blood is supplied by branches of the vertebral arteries
-Pyramid - swelling on either side of the median fissure on the anterior side
-Olive - elevation posterior to pyramids produced by olivary nuclei connecting it to the
cerebellum
-Inferior cerebellar peduncles - posterior to olives, connect medulla to cerebellum
-Cuneate & Gracile tubercles / nucleus - fine touch & proprioception
-what structure? - ✔✔medulla oblongata
✔✔diencephalon gives rise to:
midbrain gives rise to:
pons gives rise to:
medulla gives rise to: - ✔✔Diencephalon (non-brainstem) --> CN1&2
midbrain -->CN 3&4
pons --> CN 5,6,7,8
medulla --> CN9,10,11,12
✔✔basilar and cerebellar arteries supply the _____ and ______ but vertebral arteries
supple the ______ - ✔✔midbrain
pons
medulla
✔✔skeletal muscle movement is coordinated by the _______ _____ cortex and
________ _____ area in the ______ lobe - ✔✔-primary motor cortex
-motor association area (premotor contex)
-frontal lobe
✔✔coordinates information from other association areas and controls some behaviours
-what area of the brain and what lobe is it located in? - ✔✔prefrontal association area
frontal lobe
✔✔taste is processed by the _______ cortex which is located in which lobe? -
✔✔gustatory cortex
The insula, which lies deep to the temporal, parietal, and frontal lobes
, ✔✔smell is processed by the ____ cortex which is located in which lobe? - ✔✔olfactory
cortex
temporal lobe
✔✔sensory information from skin, MSK, viscera and taste buds are processed by the
______ _____ _____ cortex and the ______ ______ area in the ______ lobe -
✔✔primary somatic sensory cortex
sensory associated area
parietal lobe
✔✔vision is processed by the _____ ________ are and the ____ cortex in the _____
lobe - ✔✔visual association area
visual cortex
occipital lobe
✔✔hearing is processed by the _____ ______ are and the _____ cortex in the ______
lobe - ✔✔auditory ass. area
auditory cortex
temporal lobe
✔✔precentral gyrus = primary ____ cortex
in the ______ lobe
postcentral gyrus = primary _____ cortex
in the _____ lobe - ✔✔precentral = motor
-frontal lobe
postcentral = sensory
-parietal
✔✔which lobe controls personality, emotional expression, judgement and language -
✔✔frontal lobe
✔✔which lobe controls sensation and integrating sensory input with the visual system /
perception - ✔✔parietal lobe
✔✔name the sulcus'
1. bw frontal and parietal lobes
2. bw temporal, frontal and parietal - ✔✔1. central sulcus
2. lateral sulcus
✔✔-Composed of grey matter
-Medial aspect forms dorsal half of lateral wall of the 3rd ventricle
