TEST BANK For Ganong’s Review of
Medical Physiology (23rd edition) by Kim
Barrett, Heddwen Brooks, Scott Boitano and
Susan Barman.
National Board–Style MCQs with 100%
Correct Answers and Explanations
Volume II – Chapter 11-13.
,CHAPTER 11
Somatosensory Pathways
Q1.
Somatosensory pathways primarily convey information about:
A. Vision and hearing
B. Pain, temperature, touch, and proprioception
C. Smell and taste
D. Motor control
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Somatosensory pathways transmit touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temperature, and
proprioception from the body to the CNS.
Q2.
The dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway primarily carries:
A. Pain and temperature
B. Crude touch
C. Fine touch, vibration, and proprioception
D. Autonomic sensations
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
The dorsal column pathway conveys fine (discriminative) touch, vibration, and conscious
proprioception.
Q3.
Which tract carries pain and temperature sensation?
,A. Corticospinal tract
B. Spinocerebellar tract
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Dorsal column tract
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Pain and temperature ascend in the spinothalamic tract (anterolateral system).
Q4.
First-order neurons of somatosensory pathways have their cell bodies in the:
A. Ventral horn
B. Dorsal horn
C. Dorsal root ganglion
D. Thalamus
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Primary sensory neuron cell bodies lie in the dorsal root ganglia.
Q5.
In the dorsal column pathway, first-order neurons synapse in the:
A. Spinal cord
B. Thalamus
C. Medulla
D. Midbrain
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
First-order neurons ascend ipsilaterally and synapse in the nucleus gracilis and nucleus
cuneatus in the medulla.
, Q6.
Fibers from the lower limb ascend in the dorsal columns via the:
A. Fasciculus cuneatus
B. Fasciculus gracilis
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Lateral lemniscus
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Fasciculus gracilis carries sensory input from the lower body.
Q7.
Fibers from the upper limb ascend in the dorsal columns via the:
A. Fasciculus gracilis
B. Fasciculus cuneatus
C. Spinocerebellar tract
D. Medial lemniscus
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Fasciculus cuneatus carries sensory information from the upper body.
Q8.
Second-order neurons of the dorsal column pathway decussate at the level of the:
A. Spinal cord
B. Pons
C. Medulla
D. Thalamus
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Second-order neurons cross in the medulla as internal arcuate fibers to form the medial
lemniscus.
Medical Physiology (23rd edition) by Kim
Barrett, Heddwen Brooks, Scott Boitano and
Susan Barman.
National Board–Style MCQs with 100%
Correct Answers and Explanations
Volume II – Chapter 11-13.
,CHAPTER 11
Somatosensory Pathways
Q1.
Somatosensory pathways primarily convey information about:
A. Vision and hearing
B. Pain, temperature, touch, and proprioception
C. Smell and taste
D. Motor control
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Somatosensory pathways transmit touch, pressure, vibration, pain, temperature, and
proprioception from the body to the CNS.
Q2.
The dorsal column–medial lemniscal pathway primarily carries:
A. Pain and temperature
B. Crude touch
C. Fine touch, vibration, and proprioception
D. Autonomic sensations
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
The dorsal column pathway conveys fine (discriminative) touch, vibration, and conscious
proprioception.
Q3.
Which tract carries pain and temperature sensation?
,A. Corticospinal tract
B. Spinocerebellar tract
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Dorsal column tract
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Pain and temperature ascend in the spinothalamic tract (anterolateral system).
Q4.
First-order neurons of somatosensory pathways have their cell bodies in the:
A. Ventral horn
B. Dorsal horn
C. Dorsal root ganglion
D. Thalamus
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Primary sensory neuron cell bodies lie in the dorsal root ganglia.
Q5.
In the dorsal column pathway, first-order neurons synapse in the:
A. Spinal cord
B. Thalamus
C. Medulla
D. Midbrain
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
First-order neurons ascend ipsilaterally and synapse in the nucleus gracilis and nucleus
cuneatus in the medulla.
, Q6.
Fibers from the lower limb ascend in the dorsal columns via the:
A. Fasciculus cuneatus
B. Fasciculus gracilis
C. Spinothalamic tract
D. Lateral lemniscus
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Fasciculus gracilis carries sensory input from the lower body.
Q7.
Fibers from the upper limb ascend in the dorsal columns via the:
A. Fasciculus gracilis
B. Fasciculus cuneatus
C. Spinocerebellar tract
D. Medial lemniscus
✅ Correct answer: B
Explanation:
Fasciculus cuneatus carries sensory information from the upper body.
Q8.
Second-order neurons of the dorsal column pathway decussate at the level of the:
A. Spinal cord
B. Pons
C. Medulla
D. Thalamus
✅ Correct answer: C
Explanation:
Second-order neurons cross in the medulla as internal arcuate fibers to form the medial
lemniscus.
