AP Biology : Neural Anatomy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Neural Anatomy

Which of the following is not part of the peripheral nervous system?

Possible Answers:

Prefrontal cortex

Radial nerve

Tibial nerve

Intercostal nerves

Lumbar Plexus

Correct answer:

Prefrontal cortex

Explanation:

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of any nerves or ganglia, not including the brain and spinal cord. The prefrontal cortex is a structure in the cerebrum of the brain, and is thus part of the central nervous system.

General nerves throughout the body are part of the peripheral nervous system.

Example Question #12 : Neural Anatomy

What are the vertebral classifications, from superior to inferior?

Possible Answers:

Cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

Lumbar, thoracic, cervical, sacral

Thoracic, lumbar, sacral, cervical

Cervical, sacral, thoracic, lumbar

Correct answer:

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral

Explanation:

The spinal cord and vertebrae is broken down into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. There are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae, and five sacral vertebrae. Cervical vertebrae are located in the neck, thoracic vertebrae in the trunk or upper back, lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, and sacral vertebrae in the gluteal region. The sacral vertebrae are fused into a single unit known as the sacrum.

Example Question #13 : Nervous System

Which portion of the spinal cord sends sensory information to the brain?

Possible Answers:

Dorsal horn

Ventral horn

Central canal

Lateral horn

Correct answer:

Dorsal horn

Explanation:

The spinal cord consists of functional horns that help send information to the brain, as well as to the parts of the body. The dorsal horns send sensory information to the brain, while the ventral horns contain motor neurons.

Example Question #13 : Neural Anatomy

What is the correct order of the spinal meninges starting from the outside going inwards towards the spinal cord (superficial to deep)?

Possible Answers:

Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater

Pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater

Pia mater, arachnoid mater, dura mater

Dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Correct answer:

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Explanation:

The correct order of the spinal meninges from superficial to deep (outside to inside) is dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The dura mater is the most outer layer that is closely associated with the skill and vertebral column. Deep to the dura mater is the arachnoid mater, which contains the cerebrospinal found in the subarachnoid space. Underneath the subarachnoid space lies the pia mater, which is very closely associated with the brain and spinal cord. 

Example Question #14 : Neural Anatomy

What is the correct order of the spinal meninges from superficial to deep?

Possible Answers:

Pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater

Arachnoid mater, dura mater, pia mater

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater

Dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater

Correct answer:

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Explanation:

The correct answer is dura mater, arachnoid and lastly the pia mater. The meninges surround the brain and spinal cord in the central nervous system and are made up of three layers. The outermost layer is the dura mater, beneath it lies the arachnoid and below that is the pia mater.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures

Which of the following is a not a function of the medulla oblongata?

Possible Answers:

Control vomiting reflexes

Control breathing rate

Control speech patterns

Control blood pressure

Control cardiac rate

Correct answer:

Control speech patterns

Explanation:

The medulla oblongata is in the lower half of the brainstem. It controls a variety of functions, mostly involuntary and essential. Heart beat, breathing, and blood pressure are controlled in the medulla oblongata, as is the vomiting reflex.

Speech is controlled by Broca's area, which is located in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum.

Example Question #15 : Neural Anatomy

What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?

Possible Answers:

Conscious thought

Integrating auditory input

Integrating visual input

Integrating tactile input

Correct answer:

Integrating visual input

Explanation:

Each answer corresponds to one lobe of the cerebrum. The frontal lobe is responsible for conscious thought, as well as many other functions. The parietal lobe is responsible for integrating tactile information. The temporal lobe has the functions of interpreting smell and sound. The occipital lobe is associated with processing visual information.

Example Question #16 : Neural Anatomy

What is the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye called?

Possible Answers:

All of these refer to the same structure

Aqueous humor

Vitreous humor

Galen humor

Hippocratic humor

Correct answer:

Aqueous humor

Explanation:

The eye is divided into two chambers by the lens: the anterior and posterior chambers. The anterior chamber is filled with aqueous humor, while the posterior chamber is filled with vitreous humor. Aqueous humor nourishes the eye and maintains intraocular pressure. Aqueous humor is also important in the refraction of light, which allows humans to distinguish clear images and colors.

Hippocratic and Galen humor do not exist. Hippocrates and Galen were two ancient physicians who would use the four humors (yellow bile, black bile, phlegm, and blood) to diagnose and treat patients.

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures

A patient is taken to the hospital after suffering severe head trauma. He is unconscious for two days before waking up. Upon standing, the patient finds he has moderate trouble walking straight and has difficulty maintaining his balance.

Based on these symptoms, what part of the patient's brain do you suspect was damaged in the accident?

Possible Answers:

The medulla oblongata

The cerebellum

The hypothalamus

The amygdala

The cerebrum

Correct answer:

The cerebellum

Explanation:

The cerebellum is mainly responsible for fine tuning the motions of the body, including balance and coordination. As a result, damage to this region would cause difficulty walking straight and maintaining balance. 

Example Question #5 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures

Unlike the spinal cord, the brain mainly has grey matter on the __________ and white matter on the __________

Possible Answers:

outermost layer . . . inner layer

left half . . . right half

right half . . . left half

inner layer . . . outermost layer

Correct answer:

outermost layer . . . inner layer

Explanation:

Unmyelinated nervous system components make up grey matter, while myelinated axons make up white matter. The cerebral cortex on the surface of the brain contains unmyelinated neural tissue, namely the cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system. This region is rich in connections. Below its surface lie many myelinated axon tracts to inner nuclei, the cerebellum, other areas of the cortex, and the spinal cord.    

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