Nervous System Anatomy and Physiology
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
spinal cord - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and
support cells that extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region
of the vertebral column
cerebellum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a major feature of the hindbrain responsible for
body movements and balance
cerebrum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔the principal and most anterior part of the brain in
vertebrates, located in the front area of the skull and consisting of two hemispheres, left and
right, separated by a fissure
midbrain - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔relays sensory and motor impulses; serves important
functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye, and in auditory and visual
processing.
pons - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔part of the brain stem, assists with regulation of breathing
medulla oblongata - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔part of brain stem, regulates heart rate, blood
pressure, and breathing, and controls the reflexes of coughing, sneezing, and vomiting
pituitary gland - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a pea-sized structure located at the base of the
brain, just below the hypothalamus, to which it is attached via nerve fibers. It is part of the
endocrine system and produces critical hormones, which are chemical substances that control
various bodily functions
hypothalamus - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔lower portion of diencephalon which acts as an
autonomic center regulating metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, thirst, hunger, energy
level, and body temperature
, thalamus - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔middle portion of diencephalon which relays sensory
impulses up to the sensory cortex (aka the cerebrum); regulates sleep and consciousness
epithalamus - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔upper portion of diencephalon that regulates
hormones secreted by the pineal gland. The pineal gland produces melatonin, a serotonin
derived hormone which modulates sleep patterns
striatum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔structure lying at the base of the forebrain which is a
critical component of the motor and reward systems. Coordinates decision-making,
motivation, and reinforcement.
corpus callosum - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔a thick band of nerve fibers that divides the
cerebral cortex lobes into left and right hemispheres and acts as the connection between the
two.
meninges - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔three layers of protective tissue between the brain and
skull
frontal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔cerebrum lobe responsible for memory, intelligence,
behavior, emotions, motor function, and smell
occipital lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔cerebrum lobe responsible for vision and speech
parietal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔lobe responsible for somatic sensations (pain,
touch, temperature perception), and speech
temporal lobe - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔lobe responsible for hearing, smell, memory,
speech, and emotion
brain stem - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Portion of brain that contains the pons, medulla
oblongata, and the beginning of the spinal cord, controls the flow of messages between the
brain and the rest of the body, and it also controls basic body functions
