BIO 004 · Human Anatomy · MedMasters Collaborative

Neuro Exam study guide

Every high-yield question for the neuro exam, anatomy only, no physiology. 103 questions across five sections. Cover the page and answer from memory. Where a question says draw, draw it.

Anatomy only. Questions are grouped by exam section; the drawing prompts are marked and are part of the integrity work.

1.Nervous Tissue 33 questions

  1. Be able to identify the structures and divisions of the nervous system. What are the major differences between these divisions? Are there any important subdivisions? What are their functions and key structures?
  2. What is the difference between a nucleus and a ganglion? A tract and a neuron?
  3. What is the enteric plexus? Where is it found? What is its function?
  4. Name and differentiate between the three basic functions of the nervous system. Differentiate in terms of structures, pathway of information, and locations.
  5. What are the two types of cells that comprise nervous tissue? What are their functions? Locations? Structural differences? Compare and contrast them to each other.
  6. Draw, ID, and define the different parts of a neuron and the associated components. ✎ draw
  7. What three parts make up the typical neuron?
  8. What are Nissl bodies? What are they remnants of? What do they look like? Location?
  9. Describe the functional classifications of neurons. How are they divided? What are the subcategories? How do you differentiate between them?
  10. What are the structural classifications of neurons? Differentiate between them.
  11. What are Purkinje cells? Where are they found?
  12. What are pyramidal cells? What do they look like? Where are they found?
  13. Describe neuroglia.
  14. Name the 6 different types of neuroglia and place them into their respective categories (CNS/PNS).
  15. What are the two types of astrocytes? Where are they found? How are they structurally different? What are the functions of astrocytes?
  16. What are oligodendrocytes? What is their function? Where are they found?
  17. What are microglial cells (microglia)? What is their function?
  18. What are ependymal cells? What do they produce? Where are they found?
  19. What are Schwann cells? Where are they found? What are their function?
  20. What is the difference between myelinated and unmyelinated axons? What makes up myelin?
  21. Name the two types of neuroglia that produce myelin sheaths. Differentiate between the two of them.
  22. Name and describe the two layers of Schwann cells.
  23. ID and describe/define the structures that make up a synapse.
  24. Distinguish between white matter, gray matter, and myelin. Also gray/white matter in the brain vs. the spinal cord.
  25. How are neuronal cell bodies found in the nervous system? Axons?
  26. Name the two classes of neurotransmitters.
  27. What are catecholamines (define)? Name the catecholamines and their functions. What substances (enzymes) are responsible for breaking down catecholamines?
  28. What is MS? Who does it affect? What is the most common form of MS? Describe the course of the disease. What are the causes?
  29. What is epilepsy? Name and describe the two types of seizures. What are some of the causes of epilepsy?
  30. What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome? What causes it? What is the hallmark symptom?
  31. What is a neuroblastoma? Who does it affect? Where is it found?
  32. What is neuropathy? What causes it?
  33. What is rabies? What causes it? How does it present?

2.Central Nervous System 26 questions

  1. What are the major parts of the brain?
  2. What are the protective coverings of the brain/spinal cord?
  3. What are the layers/spaces between the protective coverings of the brain and spinal cord? (Be able to list these from superficial to deep.)
  4. What are the three extensions of dura that separate the different parts of the brain?
  5. What is the difference between gyri and sulci?
  6. What are fissures? What are the major fissures and where are they located?
  7. What are the major sulci and where are they located?
  8. What structure is found deep to the lateral sulcus? What is its function?
  9. What is the structure that connects the two sides of the brain and is composed of white matter?
  10. What are the different lobes of the brain, and what are their most general functions?
  11. Be able to distinguish between the different types of fibers found in the cerebrum and where they project to.
  12. Where is the primary motor cortex and the sensory motor cortex?
  13. What is the function of the cerebellum?
  14. Where is the thalamus? Hypothalamus? What are their most general functions?
  15. What are the three divisions of the brain stem? What are their most general functions?
  16. What are ventricles in the brain? What do they hold? Which are the major ventricles and where are they located?
  17. What is cerebrospinal fluid? What does it look like? What are the major components? (Water, ions, etc.)
  18. What are the three major functions of CSF?
  19. Describe how CSF is made/formed.
  20. What is the choroid plexus? Ependymal cells?
  21. Where is CSF reabsorbed?
  22. Trace the flow of CSF from the lateral ventricles to the subarachnoid space. ✎ draw
  23. What is the purpose of the blood brain barrier? What types of cells comprise this barrier? What kinds of substances/drugs are able to penetrate this barrier?
  24. What is Wernicke's area? Broca's area? Describe their location, function, and the result of damage to each of the areas.
  25. Know the general location of the 12 cranial nerves (with regard to other structures), their function, and the type of information each carries (sensory, motor, both). Also know what hole they enter/exit through the skull. When you answer a cranial nerve question, you must answer it by name AND Roman numeral.
  26. Know the layers of the head starting with the scalp and ending at the cerebral cortex.

3.Spine and Spinal Cord 19 questions

  1. What are the meninges/spaces found in the spinal cord?
  2. What structures are pierced with a needle when performing a lumbar puncture? Where is CSF obtained from?
  3. What is the safest location to obtain a lumbar puncture? Why? What is the general procedure for deciding the location?
  4. Describe the difference between the spinal cord in an infant/newborn/child and an adult (i.e. where does it end?). When does the cord stop growing?
  5. Describe the cervical and lumbar enlargement. Where are they located? What nerve do they supply?
  6. What is the conus medullaris? Where does it end?
  7. What is the filum terminale? What is its function? What is it composed of (structures)?
  8. Be able to draw a flow chart of the structures leaving the cord (rootlets, anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) roots, dorsal root ganglion, spinal nerve, rami communicantes, etc.). What type of information is running through each of these structures? ✎ draw
  9. Describe the white and gray matter of the cord. What is found in each?
  10. What are spinal nerves? What is their function?
  11. Describe the coverings of nerves/spinal nerves (endoneurium, fascicles, neurofibrils, perineurium, epineurium).
  12. Describe the distribution of spinal nerves (posterior ramus, anterior ramus, rami communicantes). What type of information flows through these?
  13. What is a plexus? Name the major plexuses.
  14. What is the only location of the cord that does not provide a plexus? Why not? What does it provide instead?
  15. Describe what a dermatome is and how it can be used to diagnose problems with the spinal cord.
  16. What are the two types of pathways? Which are ascending and which are descending? Are they subdivisions of the pathways?
  17. What type of information is carried by the spinothalamic pathway? What direction is it running?
  18. What type of information is the posterior column-medial lemniscus carrying?
  19. Know the profile of CSF in bacterial infections, hemorrhage, and viral infections. What is CSF made of?

4.Autonomic Nervous System 15 questions

  1. What is the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
  2. What are the components of the ANS?
  3. Describe the pathway of the ANS using the following (nuclei, preganglionic neuron, ganglion, postganglionic neuron, and effector tissues).
  4. What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system?
  5. What are the differences in fiber types between pre- and post-ganglionic neurons?
  6. Differentiate between the sympathetic trunk ganglia and the prevertebral ganglia. (Location)
  7. Name the 5 major prevertebral ganglia and where they are located.
  8. Name the parasympathetic ganglia.
  9. There are 4 fates of the sympathetic pre/post ganglionic neurons. Describe the 4 fates.
  10. Describe the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic pre-ganglionic fibers in terms of the synapse. How are they different?
  11. What is the enteric nervous system? What is its function?
  12. What are the two different types of enteric plexuses? Where are they located?
  13. What is cholinergic? Which structures are said to release acetylcholine?
  14. Compare and contrast the two divisions of the ANS (parasympathetic/sympathetic).
  15. What is a neurotransmitter?

5.Special Lab: Things to Know 10 questions

  1. Know the 4 parts of the corpus callosum.
  2. Know the sulcus of the corpus callosum.
  3. Cingulate gyrus, cingulate sulcus (just above the corpus callosum).
  4. Three parts of the inferior frontal gyrus.
  5. Three parts of the lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure).
  6. Know the flow of CSF (be able to draw a flow chart; know which ones have the choroid plexus and ependymal cells). ✎ draw
  7. Know the circle of Willis and the associated vessels that are labeled on your slides.
  8. What connects to the infundibulum?
  9. What is the homunculus?
  10. What is the difference between the primary motor cortex and primary sensory cortex?