Spinal Cord Structure and Function: Online Quizzes and Study Guide

Question 1

The ascending tracts transmit sensory information from the body to the:

Accepted Answer

Brain

Answer

Peripheral nerves

Answer

Spinal cord itself

Answer

Muscles

Question 2

The descending tracts are primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Motor control of muscles

Answer

Sensory perception

Answer

Reflex responses

Answer

Pain transmission

Question 3

Which ascending tract is the largest and conveys information about fine touch and proprioception?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway

Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Spinocerebellar tract

Answer

Anterior spinothalamic tract

Question 4

Which of the following membranes provides the outermost protective layer for the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Arachnoid mater

Answer

Plexus

Question 5

Which of the following is not a type of spinal nerve based on its location?

Accepted Answer

Frontal nerve

Answer

Cervical nerve

Answer

Thoracic nerve

Answer

Lumbar nerve

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Regulate body temperature

Answer

Transmit sensory information to the brain

Answer

Control reflexes

Answer

Coordinate movement

Question 7

The ascending tracts of the spinal cord carry sensory information:

Accepted Answer

From the peripheral nervous system to the brain

Answer

From the brain to the peripheral nervous system

Answer

Within the spinal cord

Answer

From the spinal cord to the peripheral nervous system

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of a monosynaptic reflex?

Accepted Answer

Patellar reflex

Answer

Withdrawal reflex

Answer

Crossed extensor reflex

Answer

Flexor reflex

Question 9

Damage to the descending tracts of the spinal cord can result in:

Accepted Answer

Paralysis

Answer

Sensory loss

Answer

Cognitive impairment

Answer

Emotional disturbances

Question 10

The meninges are three layers of membranes that surround the spinal cord including the pia mater, arachnoid, and dura mater.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 11

The spinal cord is divided into:

Accepted Answer

Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions

Answer

Upper and lower regions

Answer

Left and right halves

Answer

Anterior and posterior regions

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT considered a primary function of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Producing hormones

Answer

Relaying sensory information to the brain

Answer

Controlling voluntary movements

Answer

Mediating spinal reflexes

Question 13

Which type of neuron primarily carries sensory information towards the brain?

Accepted Answer

Sensory neuron

Answer

Motor neuron

Answer

Interneuron

Answer

Glial cell

Question 14

What is the collective term for the protective layers surrounding the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Meninges

Answer

Pia mater

Answer

Dura mater

Answer

Ependyma

Question 15

Which of the following ascending tracts is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Dorsal column pathway

Answer

Lateral corticospinal tract

Answer

Vestibulospinal tract

Question 16

Which type of reflex is the knee-jerk reflex classified as?

Accepted Answer

Monosynaptic

Answer

Polysynaptic

Answer

Crossed-extensor

Answer

Flexor withdrawal

Question 17

What is the name of the fluid-filled cavity that runs through the center of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Central canal

Answer

Dorsal horn

Answer

Ventral horn

Answer

Lateral horn

Question 18

What is the primary function of the descending tracts in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

To control voluntary movements

Answer

To process sensory information

Answer

To mediate spinal reflexes

Answer

To regulate autonomic functions

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a type of glial cell found in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Neurons

Answer

Astrocytes

Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Answer

Microglia

Question 20

What is the primary function of the intervertebral foramen in relation to the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

It provides a pathway for spinal nerves to exit the spinal canal.

Answer

It provides structural support to the spinal cord.

Answer

It contains cerebrospinal fluid.

Answer

It facilitates blood flow to the spinal cord.

Question 21

Which of the following tracts carries sensory information from the body to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Ascending tracts

Answer

Descending tracts

Answer

White matter

Question 22

What is the primary function of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

To relay sensory and motor signals to and from the brain

Answer

To regulate body temperature

Answer

To produce hormones

Question 23

Which of the following is NOT a spinal reflex?

Accepted Answer

Blinking

Answer

Withdrawal reflex

Answer

Knee-jerk reflex

Question 24

What type of cells transmit information within the grey matter of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Interneurons

Answer

Astrocytes

Answer

Neurons

Question 25

What is the name of the fluid-filled space that runs through the center of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Central canal

Answer

Ependymal canal

Answer

Ventricles

Answer

Subarachnoid space

Question 26

Which type of neuron carries motor commands away from the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Efferent neuron

Answer

Interneuron

Answer

Afferent neuron

Answer

Sensory neuron

Question 27

What is the function of the dorsal root ganglia?

Accepted Answer

To contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons

Answer

To relay motor commands to muscles

Answer

To produce cerebrospinal fluid

Answer

To regulate blood flow to the spinal cord

Question 28

Which of the following is a major ascending tract that carries information about touch and proprioception?

Accepted Answer

Posterior column pathway

Answer

Rubrospinal tract

Answer

Lateral spinothalamic tract

Answer

Anterior spinothalamic tract

Question 29

What is the name of the reflex arc that controls the knee-jerk reflex?

Accepted Answer

Patellar reflex arc

Answer

Vestibulo-ocular reflex arc

Answer

Pupillary reflex arc

Answer

Withdrawal reflex arc

Question 30

Which type of spinal nerve controls the muscles in your arms?

Accepted Answer

Cervical nerves

Answer

Thoracic nerves

Answer

Lumbar nerves

Question 31

Which ascending tract is responsible for transmitting sensory information related to pain and temperature to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Rubrospinal tract

Answer

Corticospinal tract

Answer

Dorsal column pathway

Question 32

What is the primary function of the vestibulospinal tract?

Accepted Answer

To regulate balance and posture

Answer

To convey sensory information from the muscles to the brain

Answer

To initiate voluntary motor movements

Answer

To regulate cardiovascular activity

Question 33

What is the primary role of the dorsal root ganglion in relation to the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Houses the cell bodies of sensory neurons

Answer

Transmits motor impulses to muscles

Answer

Controls the autonomic nervous system

Answer

Processes sensory information and sends it to the brain

Question 34

What is the main significance of the gray commissure in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Connects the left and right halves of the spinal cord

Answer

Transmits sensory information to the brain

Answer

Contains the central canal of the spinal cord

Question 35

Which neurotransmitter is primarily responsible for mediating synaptic transmission in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Glutamate

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Serotonin

Answer

GABA

Question 36

What is the key difference between upper motor neurons and lower motor neurons?

Accepted Answer

Upper motor neurons originate in the brain, while lower motor neurons originate in the spinal cord

Answer

Upper motor neurons are myelinated, while lower motor neurons are unmyelinated

Answer

Upper motor neurons control voluntary movements, while lower motor neurons control involuntary movements

Question 37

Which of the following accurately outlines the primary function of the dorsal root ganglion in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

It contains the cell bodies of sensory neurons that transmit signals from the body to the spinal cord.

Answer

It regulates the transmission of motor signals from the brain to muscles.

Question 38

A patient presents with a loss of sensation in their right leg. Which of the following spinal cord structures is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

The ascending tracts on the left side of the spinal cord.

Answer

The descending tracts on the right side of the spinal cord.

Answer

The ventral root on the right side of the spinal cord.

Question 39

Which description best describes the function of the corticospinal tract?

Accepted Answer

It transmits motor commands from the cerebral cortex to the spinal cord, allowing for voluntary movement.

Answer

It relays sensory information from the body to the brain.

Question 40

The correct sequence of events involved in a reflex arc is:

Accepted Answer

Sensory receptor activation, sensory neuron transmission, interneuron processing, motor neuron activation, muscle contraction.

Answer

Muscle contraction, sensory neuron transmission, interneuron processing, motor neuron activation, sensory receptor activation.

Question 41

The knee-jerk reflex, triggered by tapping the patellar tendon, is an example of which type of reflex?

Accepted Answer

Somatic reflex.

Answer

Cranial reflex.

Answer

Autonomic reflex.

Answer

Visceral reflex.

Question 42

Regarding the role of the spinal cord in motor control, which of the following is accurate?

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord can generate basic motor responses independent of the brain.

Answer

The spinal cord is solely responsible for planning and initiating voluntary movements.

Answer

The spinal cord simply relays motor signals from the brain.

Question 43

Loss of bladder and bowel control may indicate damage to which region of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Sacral region.

Answer

Lumbar region.

Answer

Thoracic region.

Answer

Cervical region.

Question 44

The gray matter of the spinal cord primarily consists of:

Accepted Answer

Neuron cell bodies and synapses.

Answer

Glial cells.

Answer

Myelinated axons.

Answer

Blood vessels.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a defining characteristic of a spinal reflex?

Accepted Answer

Requires conscious awareness.

Answer

Involves a rapid response.

Answer

Is involuntary.

Answer

Involves a simple neural pathway.

Question 46

The spinal cord is considered a critical link between the brain and the rest of the body primarily because:

Accepted Answer

It serves as a pathway for both sensory and motor information transmission between the brain and the body.

Answer

It exclusively controls all voluntary movements.

Question 47

Which of the following statements accurately describes the function of the dorsal root of the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Transmits sensory information from the body to the brain.

Answer

Transmits motor commands from the brain to the muscles.

Answer

Connects the spinal cord to the peripheral nerves.

Question 48

A patient presents with weakness in their right leg. An MRI reveals damage to the left side of the spinal cord at the lumbar level. Which of the following tracts is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Lateral corticospinal tract

Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Answer

Spinocerebellar tract

Answer

Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a spinal reflex?

Accepted Answer

Requires conscious thought and decision-making.

Answer

Involves a sensory neuron, interneuron, and motor neuron.

Answer

Can be modified by higher brain centers.

Answer

Provides rapid, automatic responses to stimuli.

Question 50

The patellar tendon reflex is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

Monosynaptic reflex

Answer

Somatic reflex

Answer

Polysynaptic reflex

Answer

Involuntary reflex

Question 51

The withdrawal reflex, triggered by a painful stimulus, is an example of a(n):

Accepted Answer

Polysynaptic reflex

Answer

Monosynaptic reflex

Answer

Involuntary reflex

Answer

Somatic reflex

Question 52

Which of the following best describes the role of the interneuron in a spinal reflex?

Accepted Answer

Transmits signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons.

Answer

Controls the speed of the reflex.

Answer

Receives sensory input directly from the periphery.

Question 53

Which of the following statements best describes the function of the gray matter in the spinal cord?

Accepted Answer

Contains cell bodies of neurons involved in sensory processing, motor control, and reflexes.

Answer

Carries motor commands from the brain.

Answer

Carries sensory information to the brain.

Question 54

A patient presents with loss of sensation in their left arm. Which of the following spinal cord segments is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Cervical

Answer

Lumbar

Answer

Thoracic

Answer

Sacral

Question 55

The process of  **  **  allows for the adaptation and fine-tuning of spinal reflexes based on experience and context.

Accepted Answer

Descending control

Answer

Ascending pathways

Answer

Reflex modulation

Answer

Sensory integration

Question 56

A patient with a spinal cord injury at the level of T10 is likely to experience:

Accepted Answer

Paralysis of the legs and loss of sensation below the level of the injury.

Answer

Impaired respiratory function.

Answer

Loss of sensation in the arms.