Spinal Tracts And Reflexes

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| By Cahjgirl

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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 4,551

Questions: 15 | Attempts: 4,586 | Updated: Jan 15, 2024

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This quiz will test your knowledge of the many nerve tracts and reflexes learned in Neuroscience Summer Course 2010. You will need to know their function, their pathways, and the symptoms displayed when pathologies interupt these tracts or reflexes.

Questions and Answers

1.

The function of the Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus is
- A.
  
  Trunk Postural Adjustments
- B.
  
  Neck Postural Adjustments
- C.
  
  Controls eye movements
- D.
  
  Discrimintive Touch
- E.
  
  Fast Pain
Correct Answer
C. Controls eye movements

Explanation
The MLF's function is to control eye motion. The Medial Vestibulospinal tract controls neck postural adjustments. The Lateral vestibulospinal tract controls trunk postural adjustments. The DCML is responsible for discriminitive touch and the STT is responsible for fast pain.

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1
0
2.

Which statement is NOT true about the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)?
- A.
  
  The STNR presents in typcial development until about 8-11 months of post-natal life
- B.
  
  The STNR is a type of spinal cord reflex
- C.
  
  The STNR is a precusor to crawling
- D.
  
  In the STNR if the head is flexed, the arms flex and legs extend.
- E.
  
  In the STNR if the head is extended, the arms extend & legs flex
Correct Answer
B. The STNR is a type of spinal cord reflex

Explanation
A,C,D, and E are all true, however the STNR is actually a type of brain stem reflex which is why B is false.

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3.

Spinal Reflexes are the result of involuntary communication between Lower Motor Neurons and Upper Motor Neurons.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
Spinal Reflexes are the results of involuntary communication between Lower Motor Neurons and SENSORY neurons, not Upper Motor Neurons. Upper Motor neurons may work to inhibit spinal reflexes, but they do not cause them.

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2
0
4.

Which statement is true about the Myotatic Stretch Reflex?
- A.
  
  This polysynaptic reflex starts with the lengthening of a muscle.
- B.
  
  The lengthening of the muscle causes the Ia and II sensory axons to fire.
- C.
  
  This ultimately results in the inhibition of the antagonist.
- D.
  
  The Ia excites motor neurons (Gamma) to the same muscle, causing a contraction that opposes lengthening
Correct Answer
C. This ultimately results in the inhibition of the antagonist.

Explanation
A)is false because the MSR is a monosynaptic reflex, not polysynaptic. B) is false because only Ia sensory axons are fired. D) is false because the motor neurons are Alpha not Gamma. So C is the only true answer.

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5.

Which tract(s) descends through the Lateral Funiculus?
- A.
  
  Spinalthalamic
- B.
  
  Anterior (ventral) Corticospinal
- C.
  
  Rubriospinal
- D.
  
  Lateral Corticospinal
- E.
  
  C & D
Correct Answer
E. C & D

Explanation
It is not B because thee Spinothalamic tract actually ASCENDS through the anterolateral column. The Anterior (ventral) Corticospinal Tract descends through the anterior funiculus. Both the Lateral Corticospinal and Rubio spinal descend through the lateral funiculus.

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6.

Which tract(s) decussates at the Medulla?
- A.
  
  The Dorsal Column Medial Lemniscus
- B.
  
  The Spinothalamic
- C.
  
  The Rubrospinal
- D.
  
  The Lateral Corticospinal
- E.
  
  A & D
Correct Answer
E. A & D

Explanation
The STT(B) decussates at the level of the spinal cord. The Rubrospinal tract decussates at the midbrain. And while the Lateral corticospinal is descending and the DCML is ascending, they both decussate at the Medulla. The DCML crosses after synapsing at the nucleus cuneatus or gracilis. The Lateral Corticospinal crosses after passing through the medulla pyramid.

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0
1
7.

You encounter a patient with Brown-Sequard Syndrome. His hemisection lesion is at the C6 level (right side). Which of the deficits listed below would you expect to see with this individual? Select all that apply.
- A.
  
  Paralysis in his left lower extremeties
- B.
  
  Paralysis in his right lower extremeties
- C.
  
  Loss of pain and temperature sensation on his left side below the lesion
- D.
  
  Loss of discriminative touch on his left side below the lesion
- E.
  
  Loss of discriminative touch on his right side below the lesion
Correct Answer(s)
B. Paralysis in his right lower extremeties
C. Loss of pain and temperature sensation on his left side below the lesion
E. Loss of discriminative touch on his right side below the lesion

Explanation
Paralysis occurs on the ipsilateral side of the lesion, in this case the right side. Loss of pain and temperature occurs on the side contralateral to the lesion (in this case the left side). Loss of discriminative touch occurs on the ipsilateral side (in this case the right side).

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0
0
8.

Which statement is TRUE about the dorsolateral system tracts?
- A.
  
  They travel through the anterior funiculus.
- B.
  
  Their function includes limb flexion and fine movements
- C.
  
  Includes the Lateral and Anterior Corticospinal Tracts
- D.
  
  Terminates at the Anterior Funiculus
- E.
  
  Affects mostly Extensor muslces
Correct Answer
B. Their function includes limb flexion and fine movements

Explanation
The correct answer is that the function of the dorsolateral system tracts includes limb flexion and fine movements. This means that these tracts are involved in controlling and coordinating the movements of limbs, allowing for precise and delicate movements as well as flexion of the limbs.

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1
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9.

The cell bodies of all descending spinal tracts are in the Motor Cortex.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
The cell bodies of the Rubrospinal tract are in the red nucleus of the midbrain

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10.

Children with Cerebral Palsy display strong ATNR and STNR may be due to...
- A.
  
  Damage to Lower Motor Neurons that occured in gestation
- B.
  
  A hemisection spinal cord lesion caused by a genetic mutation
- C.
  
  Bilateral symmetric malformation or swelling in the motor cortex
- D.
  
  Loss of Dopamine in the Basal Ganglia
Correct Answer
C. Bilateral symmetric malformation or swelling in the motor cortex

Explanation
The swelling or malformation in the motor cortex may prevent the cortex from inhibiting the ATNR and STNR. Damage to the lower motor neurons would affect spinal cord reflexes. A hemisection lesion in spinal cord would not affect ATNR or STNR. While certain types of CP are a result of damage to the Badal Ganglia, it is typically not related to the loss of dopamine.

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11.

The Lateral Corticospinal Tract mostly synapses with interneurons in the spinal cord.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
The LCT synapses with LMNs also, but mostly with interneurons.

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12.

Because the Ventral/Anterior corticospinal tract descends ipsilaterally, it only affects the ipsilateral side.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
It does descend ipsilaterally, but then it has a bilateral projection at the leve of the spinal cord causing it to synapse with LMN bilaterally.

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13.

Not all descending tracts decussate before synapsing at the level of the spinal cord.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
The Lateral Vestibular Tract descends ipsilaterally the entire way from the vestibular nucleus to the spinal cord.

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14.

Select all the tracts that are in the Ventralmedial System, which travel through the anterior funiculus. You can select more than one answer.
- A.
  
  Lateral Corticospinal
- B.
  
  Medial Recticulospinal
- C.
  
  Corticobulbar
- D.
  
  Lateral Recticulospinal
- E.
  
  Vestibulospinal
Correct Answer(s)
B. Medial Recticulospinal
E. Vestibulospinal

Explanation
A, C, and D are all part of the Dorsolateral system and pass through the lateral funiculus.

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15.

The Lateral Corticospinal Tract exits the spinal cord at the...
- A.
  
  Ventral Root
- B.
  
  Dorsal Root
- C.
  
  Dorsal Root Ganglion
- D.
  
  It does not exit the spinal cord
Correct Answer
A. Ventral Root

Explanation
Because the Lateral Corticospinal Tract is a motor tract, it will synapse with a motor neuron that exits the spinal cord at the ventral horn.

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Current Version
Jan 15, 2024

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
Jul 27, 2010

Quiz Created by
Cahjgirl

Spinal Tracts And Reflexes

The function of the Medial Longitudinal Fasciculus is

Which statement is NOT true about the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)?

Spinal Reflexes are the result of involuntary communication between Lower Motor Neurons and Upper Motor Neurons.

Which statement is true about the Myotatic Stretch Reflex?

Which tract(s) descends through the Lateral Funiculus?

Which tract(s) decussates at the Medulla?

You encounter a patient with Brown-Sequard Syndrome. His hemisection lesion is at the C6 level (right side). Which of the deficits listed below would you expect to see with this individual? Select all that apply.

Which statement is TRUE about the dorsolateral system tracts?

The cell bodies of all descending spinal tracts are in the Motor Cortex.

Children with Cerebral Palsy display strong ATNR and STNR may be due to...

The Lateral Corticospinal Tract mostly synapses with interneurons in the spinal cord.

Because the Ventral/Anterior corticospinal tract descends ipsilaterally, it only affects the ipsilateral side.

Not all descending tracts decussate before synapsing at the level of the spinal cord.

Select all the tracts that are in the Ventralmedial System, which travel through the anterior funiculus. You can select more than one answer.

The Lateral Corticospinal Tract exits the spinal cord at the...