Neuroanatomy Study Guide for CDIS
421 (Answered) 314 Questions and
Correct Answers, 100% Correct. Latest
2024/2025.
Chromatolysis
Occurs when a cell is injured and the cell body swells and shifts its nucleus to the periphery.
Commissural fibers
Fibers that connect one hemisphere to another.
Saltatory conduction
Occurs when an impulse jumps from node to node on an axon.
Horizontal slice
(or slice) of the brain separates the top from the bottom.
2 neuron reflex arc (monosynaptic)
Simplest type of nerve pathway, involves sensory and motor neuron; sensory input goes directly to
the motor neuron with no interneuron; ex: knee jerk.
2 types of visual receptors (photoreceptors)
Rods and cones.
3 neuron reflex arc (polysynaptic)
Involves sensory, motor and interneuron; sensory information comes in through the dorsal root; in
addition to being sent to brain, stimulus is sent to an interneuron in gray matter of spinal cord; ex:
withdrawal reflex.
Transient ischemic attack
A temporary interruption in blood flow to the brain.
Embolism
A clot that moves through the arterial system until it gets to an artery too small for it to get through
and gets stuck.
Posterior lobe lesion
A disruption of planning and coordination of motor movements is most likely due to a lesion of the
posterior lobe.
Contralateral visual field lesion
A lesion after the optic chiasm affects the contralateral visual field.
,Basal ganglia lesion
A lesion in the right basal ganglia would affect movement in the left side of the body.
Cerebellum lesion
A lesion in the right portion of the cerebellum would affect movement in the right side of the body.
Left optic nerve lesion
A lesion on the left optic nerve takes out the left visual field (blind in left eye).
Bipolar neuron
A neuron that has one dendrite and one axon.
Multipolar neuron
A neuron that has two dendrites and one axon.
Unilateral and ipsilateral symptoms
A patient has a lesion in the right hemisphere with signs and symptoms observed on the right half of
the body.
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to reorganize function, as seen in a patient with a lesion to the left inferior parietal
lobule who improves written language abilities.
Right oculomotor nerve lesion
The most likely location of the lesion when the right pupil does not react to light but the left pupil
does.
Gag reflex
A reflex that requires sensory input transmitted by the glossopharyngeal IX nerve and motor
response transmitted by the vagus X nerve.
Spastic hemiplegia
A state of paralysis with hypertonia, exaggerated reflexes, and clasp-knife rigidity on one side of the
body.
Stretch reflex
A stimulus causes a muscle spindle to be activated, sending information to motor neurons without
an intervening interneuron, which causes a quick muscle contraction.
Nucleus and ganglion
A well-defined collection of nerve cells in the CNS is called a nucleus; a similar collection of cells in
the PNS is called a ganglion.
Abducen VI
Moves eyeball.
, Accessory XI
Head turning and shrugging shoulders (motor).
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.
Action potential
A nerve impulse; a stimulus causes sodium gates to open; +30/40mV.
Afferent
Conduction of nerve impulses toward the CNS (sensory).
Agnosia
The inability to recognize what you are touching even though you can feel it.
Hypoglossal XII
All of the tongue muscles, intrinsic and extrinsic, are innervated by the hypoglossal XII.
Anterolateral system (ALS)
These fibers ascend in the anterior and lateral aspects of the spinal cord.
Dorsal and ventral roots
Dorsal roots contain only sensory fibers and the ventral roots contain only motor fibers.
Alveus of hippocampus
A thin layer of white matter covering the ventricular surface of the hippocampus.
Analgesia
Condition in which painful stimuli are not perceived as uncomfortable.
Anesthesia
Drug-induced loss of sensation.
Angular gyrus
Supplied by the MCA; involved in reading/word retrieval; gray matter.
Gyri
Part of cortex. Cortex is gray matter.
Complex association area
Multiple functions integrating, lots of tracts going in and out.
Prefrontal cortex
A complex association area involved in inhibition, executive function, emotions, personality,
reasoning, self-reflection.
421 (Answered) 314 Questions and
Correct Answers, 100% Correct. Latest
2024/2025.
Chromatolysis
Occurs when a cell is injured and the cell body swells and shifts its nucleus to the periphery.
Commissural fibers
Fibers that connect one hemisphere to another.
Saltatory conduction
Occurs when an impulse jumps from node to node on an axon.
Horizontal slice
(or slice) of the brain separates the top from the bottom.
2 neuron reflex arc (monosynaptic)
Simplest type of nerve pathway, involves sensory and motor neuron; sensory input goes directly to
the motor neuron with no interneuron; ex: knee jerk.
2 types of visual receptors (photoreceptors)
Rods and cones.
3 neuron reflex arc (polysynaptic)
Involves sensory, motor and interneuron; sensory information comes in through the dorsal root; in
addition to being sent to brain, stimulus is sent to an interneuron in gray matter of spinal cord; ex:
withdrawal reflex.
Transient ischemic attack
A temporary interruption in blood flow to the brain.
Embolism
A clot that moves through the arterial system until it gets to an artery too small for it to get through
and gets stuck.
Posterior lobe lesion
A disruption of planning and coordination of motor movements is most likely due to a lesion of the
posterior lobe.
Contralateral visual field lesion
A lesion after the optic chiasm affects the contralateral visual field.
,Basal ganglia lesion
A lesion in the right basal ganglia would affect movement in the left side of the body.
Cerebellum lesion
A lesion in the right portion of the cerebellum would affect movement in the right side of the body.
Left optic nerve lesion
A lesion on the left optic nerve takes out the left visual field (blind in left eye).
Bipolar neuron
A neuron that has one dendrite and one axon.
Multipolar neuron
A neuron that has two dendrites and one axon.
Unilateral and ipsilateral symptoms
A patient has a lesion in the right hemisphere with signs and symptoms observed on the right half of
the body.
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to reorganize function, as seen in a patient with a lesion to the left inferior parietal
lobule who improves written language abilities.
Right oculomotor nerve lesion
The most likely location of the lesion when the right pupil does not react to light but the left pupil
does.
Gag reflex
A reflex that requires sensory input transmitted by the glossopharyngeal IX nerve and motor
response transmitted by the vagus X nerve.
Spastic hemiplegia
A state of paralysis with hypertonia, exaggerated reflexes, and clasp-knife rigidity on one side of the
body.
Stretch reflex
A stimulus causes a muscle spindle to be activated, sending information to motor neurons without
an intervening interneuron, which causes a quick muscle contraction.
Nucleus and ganglion
A well-defined collection of nerve cells in the CNS is called a nucleus; a similar collection of cells in
the PNS is called a ganglion.
Abducen VI
Moves eyeball.
, Accessory XI
Head turning and shrugging shoulders (motor).
Acetylcholine
A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.
Action potential
A nerve impulse; a stimulus causes sodium gates to open; +30/40mV.
Afferent
Conduction of nerve impulses toward the CNS (sensory).
Agnosia
The inability to recognize what you are touching even though you can feel it.
Hypoglossal XII
All of the tongue muscles, intrinsic and extrinsic, are innervated by the hypoglossal XII.
Anterolateral system (ALS)
These fibers ascend in the anterior and lateral aspects of the spinal cord.
Dorsal and ventral roots
Dorsal roots contain only sensory fibers and the ventral roots contain only motor fibers.
Alveus of hippocampus
A thin layer of white matter covering the ventricular surface of the hippocampus.
Analgesia
Condition in which painful stimuli are not perceived as uncomfortable.
Anesthesia
Drug-induced loss of sensation.
Angular gyrus
Supplied by the MCA; involved in reading/word retrieval; gray matter.
Gyri
Part of cortex. Cortex is gray matter.
Complex association area
Multiple functions integrating, lots of tracts going in and out.
Prefrontal cortex
A complex association area involved in inhibition, executive function, emotions, personality,
reasoning, self-reflection.
