INTRO TO MEDICAL NEUROSCIENCE
MIDTERM #1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Dorsal horn (ipsilateral) - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of the second order
neurons in lateral STT located?
Proprioception, vibration, touch and discriminative touch, pressure - Answer-THE
DCML pathway carries which sensory modalities from the periphery to the cortex?
Cuneate - Answer-The axons of first order neurons from the upper body in the DCML
synapse on second order neurons in which nuclei?
Gracile - Answer-The axons of first order neurons from the lower body in the DCML
synapse on second order neurons in which nuclei?
Caudal medulla - Answer-Where do the second order neurons of DCML decussate?
Medial Leminiscus - Answer-What is the fiber bundle called that is formed after the
second order neurons of DCML decussate?
Trigeminal (cranial nerve V) ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of first
order neurons carrying somatosensation from the face?
Principle nucleus (of trigeminal complex) - Answer-Where do the cell bodies of first
order neurons carrying somatosensation from the face synapse with second order
neurons?
Dorsal horn of spinal cord - Answer-Where do the first order neurons in the lateral
STT synapse with second order neurons?
Trigeminal Ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of first order neurons
carrying pain and temperature sensation from the face?
Spinal Nucleus (of the trigeminal complex) - Answer-Where do the cell bodies of the
first oder neurons carrying pain and temperature sensation from the face synapse
with second order neurons?
VPL (ventral lateral posterior nucleus) of thalamus - Answer-The third order neurons
of the DCML system and the lateral STT are located in which thalamic nucleus?
VPM (ventral medial posterior nucleus) of thalamus - Answer-Third order neurons
carrying sensation from the face are located where?
Skeletal striated muscles - Answer-Where are neuromuscular spindles located?
Tendons - Answer-Where are golgi tendon organs located?
, Dorsal root ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies for afferents from muscle
spindles and golgi tendon organs located?
Clarke's nucleus - Answer-Where do the muscles spindles and golgi tendon organs
synapse with second order neurons?
Posterior (dorsal) spinocerebellar tract - Answer-Second order neurons in Clarke's
nucleus carry proprioceptive information along which pathway on their way to the
cerebellum?
Corona Radiata - Answer-Projection fibers to and from the cortex form what?
Internal Capsule - Answer-The corona radiata continues ventrally to form what?
Sensation - Answer-A subjective, qualitative characterization of a stimulus at the
level of consciousness and a quantitative characterization of that stimulus
Somatic sensation - Answer-Sensation that arises from external environment
Visceral sensation - Answer-Sensation that arises from internal environment
Receptive field - Answer-Region of sensory space, either on the body's surface or in
the sensory environment, in which a stimulus can be transduced
Sensory Transduction - Answer-Conversation of physical energy into action
potentials
First Order Neuron - Answer-Sensory neurons that are responsible for transaction of
physical/chemical stimulation within the cell's receptive field into receptor potentials
Second Order Neuron - Answer-Conducts nerve impulses to thalamus
Third Order Neuron - Answer-Conducts nerve impulses from thalamus to primary
somatosensory area
Ligament Receptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our perception
of size in the "bone in a bag" test?
Muscle and tendon receptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our
perception of weight in the "bone in a bag" test?
Cutaneous Mechanoreceptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our
perception of small physical features in the "bone in a bag" test?
Peripheral Sensitization - Answer-Reduction of activation threshold and increased
responsiveness of peripheral ends of nociceptors
Central Sensitization - Answer-Increased excitability of neurons in CNS in response
to simulation, creating abnormal sensation
MIDTERM #1 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Dorsal horn (ipsilateral) - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of the second order
neurons in lateral STT located?
Proprioception, vibration, touch and discriminative touch, pressure - Answer-THE
DCML pathway carries which sensory modalities from the periphery to the cortex?
Cuneate - Answer-The axons of first order neurons from the upper body in the DCML
synapse on second order neurons in which nuclei?
Gracile - Answer-The axons of first order neurons from the lower body in the DCML
synapse on second order neurons in which nuclei?
Caudal medulla - Answer-Where do the second order neurons of DCML decussate?
Medial Leminiscus - Answer-What is the fiber bundle called that is formed after the
second order neurons of DCML decussate?
Trigeminal (cranial nerve V) ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of first
order neurons carrying somatosensation from the face?
Principle nucleus (of trigeminal complex) - Answer-Where do the cell bodies of first
order neurons carrying somatosensation from the face synapse with second order
neurons?
Dorsal horn of spinal cord - Answer-Where do the first order neurons in the lateral
STT synapse with second order neurons?
Trigeminal Ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies of first order neurons
carrying pain and temperature sensation from the face?
Spinal Nucleus (of the trigeminal complex) - Answer-Where do the cell bodies of the
first oder neurons carrying pain and temperature sensation from the face synapse
with second order neurons?
VPL (ventral lateral posterior nucleus) of thalamus - Answer-The third order neurons
of the DCML system and the lateral STT are located in which thalamic nucleus?
VPM (ventral medial posterior nucleus) of thalamus - Answer-Third order neurons
carrying sensation from the face are located where?
Skeletal striated muscles - Answer-Where are neuromuscular spindles located?
Tendons - Answer-Where are golgi tendon organs located?
, Dorsal root ganglion - Answer-Where are the cell bodies for afferents from muscle
spindles and golgi tendon organs located?
Clarke's nucleus - Answer-Where do the muscles spindles and golgi tendon organs
synapse with second order neurons?
Posterior (dorsal) spinocerebellar tract - Answer-Second order neurons in Clarke's
nucleus carry proprioceptive information along which pathway on their way to the
cerebellum?
Corona Radiata - Answer-Projection fibers to and from the cortex form what?
Internal Capsule - Answer-The corona radiata continues ventrally to form what?
Sensation - Answer-A subjective, qualitative characterization of a stimulus at the
level of consciousness and a quantitative characterization of that stimulus
Somatic sensation - Answer-Sensation that arises from external environment
Visceral sensation - Answer-Sensation that arises from internal environment
Receptive field - Answer-Region of sensory space, either on the body's surface or in
the sensory environment, in which a stimulus can be transduced
Sensory Transduction - Answer-Conversation of physical energy into action
potentials
First Order Neuron - Answer-Sensory neurons that are responsible for transaction of
physical/chemical stimulation within the cell's receptive field into receptor potentials
Second Order Neuron - Answer-Conducts nerve impulses to thalamus
Third Order Neuron - Answer-Conducts nerve impulses from thalamus to primary
somatosensory area
Ligament Receptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our perception
of size in the "bone in a bag" test?
Muscle and tendon receptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our
perception of weight in the "bone in a bag" test?
Cutaneous Mechanoreceptors - Answer-Which sensory receptors contribute to our
perception of small physical features in the "bone in a bag" test?
Peripheral Sensitization - Answer-Reduction of activation threshold and increased
responsiveness of peripheral ends of nociceptors
Central Sensitization - Answer-Increased excitability of neurons in CNS in response
to simulation, creating abnormal sensation
