Past Paper Questions

Front 1

What effect on reflex intensity does increased gamma motor neuron activity have?

Back 1

Increased (as gamma motor neuron activity increase the tension in intrafusal muscle fibres)

Front 2

Name the subcortical descending tract stimulating extensor (antigravity) muscles?

Back 2

Reticulospinal Tract

Front 3

What nucleus receives all pain afferents from the face?

Back 3

Trigeminal nucleus

Front 4

What nucleus projects climbing fibres to the cerebellum?

Back 4

Inferior Olivary Nucleus

Front 5

What is the main site of neurons which degenerate in Huntingdon's Chorea?

Back 5

Striatum

Front 6

What is the location of neurons secreting corticotropin-releasing hormone?

Back 6

Paraventricular Nucleus

Front 7

Name the site at which peptides directly affecting the pituitary are released?

Back 7

Median Eminence

Front 8

What condition can be caused by lesions to the subthalamic nucleus?

Back 8

Ballism

Front 9

What is Chlorpromazine used to treat?

Back 9

Schizophrenia

Front 10

What is the mode of action of many antipsychotics?

Back 10

Dopamine antagonists

Front 11

How do anxiolytics such as Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates work?

Back 11

Increase GABA action

Front 12

What would you use Haloperidol to treat?

Back 12

Schizophrenia

Front 13

The cerebellum has motor effects on which side of the body?

Back 13

Ipsilateral

Front 14

What would be the effects of a blockage of the anterior spinal artery branches to the medial medulla?

Back 14

Medial Medullary Syndrome
Alternating Hemiplegia - with deviation of tongue to ipsilateral side, contralteral weakness and loss of touch and proprioception. Pain sensation maintained

Front 15

What would be the effect of a blockage of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery to the lateral medulla?

Back 15

Lateral Medullary Syndrome
Characterised by sensory deficits affecting the trunk and contralateral extremities and sensory defects (loss of pain and temperature) affecting th ipsilateral face and cranial nerves.

Front 16

Describe the glycine receptor?

Back 16

Ionotropic, Chloride Channel, Inhibitory

Front 17

What is the primary role of the ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus?

Back 17

Somatosensory Relay

Front 18

What is the primary role of the ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus?

Back 18

Receives input from the basal ganglia and cerebellum, functions in coordination and planning of movement.

Front 19

What is the primary role of the anterior nucleus of the thalamus?

Back 19

Alertness, involved in learning and memory

Front 20

In photoreceptor conduction what is the name of the G protein which activates the phosphodiesterase?

Back 20

Transducin

Front 21

In photoreceptor transduction what ac tivates the G protein Transducin?

Back 21

Photoexcited rhodopsin

Front 22

Name a glial cell found in the retina?

Back 22

Muller Cell
(Astroglia
Microglia)

Front 23

What is the role of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus?

Back 23

Parasympathetic cranial nerve nucleus suppl

Front 24

True or false:
Diazepam is used to treat acute status epilepsy?

Back 24

True

Front 25

True or false:
Drugs which reduce 5-HT action are a main treatment for depression?

Back 25

False

Front 26

True or false:
Drugs which potentiate GABA action are used as anxiolytics?

Back 26

True

Front 27

True or false:
Dopamine Agonists are anti-psychotic?

Back 27

False

Front 28

True or false:
Dopamine agonists help control the brady kinesia in Parkinsonism

Back 28

True

Front 29

How does the internal carotid artery enter the cranial cavity?

Back 29

Through the carotid canal.

Front 30

How does the vertebral artery enter the cranial cavity?

Back 30

Through the foramen magnum.

Front 31

How does CSF leave the ventricular system?

Back 31

By entering the dural venous sinuses in the arachnoid granulations (small protrusions of the arachnoid through the dura mater)

Front 32

Describe the GABA receptor?

Back 32

Two classes:
GABA-A ionotropic, in which receptor is part of ligand gated ion complex.
GABA-B - metabotropic ie G Protein coupled

Front 33

What is the effect of the transmitter in the projection from the subthalamic nucleus to the globus pallidus internal segment?

Back 33

Excitatory

Front 34

Are ascending fibres in the gracile and cuneate fasciculus ipsilateral or contralateral?

Back 34

Ipsilateral

Front 35

Where do first order fibres of the gracile fasciculus synapse?

Back 35

Gracile Nucleus in Medulla Oblongata of Brainstem

Front 36

What tract is formed from the second order fibres of the gracile and cuneate fasciculus?

Back 36

Medial Lemniscus

Front 37

Where in the spinal cord are enkephalin neurons which modulate sensory transmission?

Back 37

Dorsal Horn

Front 38

What tract carries touch/position information from the face?

Back 38

Trigeminal Lemniscus

Front 39

What tract carries pain/temperature information from the face?

Back 39

Trigeminal Tract

Front 40

What is the site of synaptic relay of sensory information from the face?

Back 40

Trigeminal Nucleus - then ventroposterio medial nucleus of thalamus

Front 41

What is the gland lying beneath the optic chiasm?

Back 41

Pituitary Gland

Front 42

What nerve contains the stapedius muscle?

Back 42

Facial Nerve

Front 43

What would be the effect of a long-standing lesion in the internal capsule on the strength of the stretch reflex?

Back 43

Increase

Front 44

What is the principle relay site from cerebral cortex to cerebellar cortex?

Back 44

Pontine Nucleus of the Pons

Front 45

What brainstem nucleus contains maps of body and visual space?

Back 45

Superior Colliculus

Front 46

What are neuroleptics used to treat?

Back 46

Psychosis/Schizophrenia

Front 47

True or False: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antiepileptic?

Back 47

False

Front 48

What effect does light hitting a photoreceptor have on glutamate release?

Back 48

It reduces it.

Front 49

How does an on-centre bipolar respond to light hitting its photoreceptor?

Back 49

Reduced glutamate causes depolarisation via metabotropic receptor.

Front 50

How does an off-centre bipolar cell respond to light hitting its photoreceptor?

Back 50

Reduced glutamate causes hyperpolarisation via ionotropic receptor.

Front 51

What function is associated with the anterior hypothalamic nucleus?

Back 51

Thermoregulation (also plays a role in sleep)

Front 52

Which brainstem nucleus transmits dental pain?

Back 52

Spinal Trigeminal Nucleus

Front 53

Name the nucleus receiving fibres from the interposed and dentate nucleus of the cerebellum?

Back 53

Red Nucleus

Front 54

Are benzodiazepines addictive?

Back 54

Yes

Front 55

Where would you find the cell bodies of neurons projecting nociceptive information to the thalamus?

Back 55

Dorsal Root Ganglion

Front 56

What spinal tract is involved in the perception of vibration?

Back 56

Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus Tract

Front 57

What is the cranial nerve causing papillary constriction?

Back 57

Oculomotor

Front 58

What is the cranial nerve supplying the carotid sinus and body?

Back 58

Glossopharyngeal

Front 59

What ion passes through the GABA-A ion channel?

Back 59

Chloride Cl-

Front 60

What is the main component of scars after brain damage?

Back 60

Reactive Astrocytes (+Microglia)

Front 61

What effect does dopamine have on the indirect pathway? Through which receptors?

Back 61

Inhibitory - D2

Front 62

What effect does dopamine have on the direct pathway? Through which receptors?

Back 62

Excitatory D1

Front 63

What is the nucleus projecting climbing fibres to the cerebellum?

Back 63

Inferior Olivary Nucleus