Peripheral Nervous System: Interactive Learning Quizzes for Medical Students

Question 1

Which of the following is a component of the somatic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Efferent neuron

Answer

Afferent neuron

Answer

Interneuron

Answer

Glial cell

Question 2

Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

Answer

Dopamine

Question 3

The pudendal nerve innervates which region of the body?

Accepted Answer

Pelvic region

Answer

Upper limb

Answer

Lower limb

Answer

Head and neck

Question 4

The dorsal root ganglion contains:

Accepted Answer

Cell bodies of afferent neurons

Answer

Cell bodies of efferent neurons

Answer

Synapses between afferent and efferent neurons

Answer

Glial cells

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a function of the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Higher-level cognitive processing

Answer

Sensory signal transmission

Answer

Motor control

Answer

Coordination of body movements

Question 6

The brachial plexus gives rise to the nerves that innervate:

Accepted Answer

Upper limb

Answer

Lower limb

Answer

Head and neck

Answer

Pelvis

Question 7

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of how many major divisions?

Accepted Answer

Two: sympathetic and parasympathetic

Answer

Three: sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic

Answer

Four: somatic, sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic

Answer

Five: central, peripheral, sensory, sympathetic, and parasympathetic

Question 8

Which neurotransmitter is PRIMARILY released by sympathetic nerve terminals in the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 9

Identify the type of sensory neuron responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations:

Accepted Answer

C fibers

Answer

A-alpha fibers

Answer

A-beta fibers

Answer

D fibers

Question 10

The myelin sheath surrounding peripheral nerve axons is primarily generated by which cells?

Accepted Answer

Schwann cells

Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Answer

Astrocytes

Answer

Ependymal cells

Question 11

Which muscle group is innervated by the radial nerve?

Accepted Answer

Triceps brachii and brachioradialis

Answer

Triceps brachii and biceps brachii

Answer

Brachioradialis and deltoid

Answer

Biceps brachii and deltoid

Question 12

Which of the following conditions is a type of peripheral neuropathy commonly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency?

Accepted Answer

Alcoholic neuropathy

Answer

Guillain-Barre syndrome

Answer

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Answer

Diabetic neuropathy

Question 13

In which cutaneous layer are sensory receptors primarily located to detect touch and pressure?

Accepted Answer

Dermis

Answer

Epidermis

Answer

Hypodermis

Answer

Subcutis

Question 14

The autonomic nervous system comprises two divisions. Which are they?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic and parasympathetic

Answer

Sensory and motor

Answer

Central and peripheral

Answer

Somatic and autonomic

Question 15

Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction to stimulate muscle contraction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Serotonin

Question 16

The myelin sheath enhances nerve impulse conduction primarily because it acts as:

Accepted Answer

Insulator

Answer

Electrical resistor

Answer

Capacitor

Answer

Generator of action potentials

Question 17

Which type of receptor mediates the 'fight-or-flight' response?

Accepted Answer

Alpha-adrenergic receptor

Answer

Beta-adrenergic receptor

Answer

Muscarinic receptor

Answer

Nicotinic receptor

Question 18

Anatomically, the spinal cord belongs to the:

Accepted Answer

Central nervous system

Answer

Peripheral nervous system

Answer

Somatic nervous system

Answer

Autonomic nervous system

Question 19

A defining characteristic of peripheral neuropathy is:

Accepted Answer

Sensory disturbances (e.g., numbness, tingling)

Answer

Motor weakness or paralysis

Answer

Cognitive impairment

Answer

Seizures

Question 20

Sensory neuron cell bodies are located within the:

Accepted Answer

Dorsal root ganglion

Answer

Ventral root ganglion

Answer

Schwann cells

Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Question 21

Which cranial nerve is responsible for controlling facial expressions?

Accepted Answer

Facial nerve

Answer

Trigeminal nerve

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 22

A patient presents with weakness and atrophy in their right arm. Electrophysiological testing reveals a lesion in the brachial plexus. Which of the following statements accurately describes the brachial plexus?

Accepted Answer

It is formed by the ventral rami of spinal nerves C5-T1.

Answer

It is composed of only motor fibers, not sensory fibers.

Answer

It innervates the muscles of the neck and shoulder, not the arm.

Answer

It is primarily responsible for sensory input from the arm to the spinal cord.

Question 23

A patient presents with Horner's syndrome, characterized by ptosis (drooping eyelid), miosis (constricted pupil), and anhidrosis (lack of sweating). Which of the following structures is most likely affected by the condition?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic trunk

Answer

Facial nerve

Answer

Trigeminal nerve

Answer

Vagus nerve

Question 24

A patient presents with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), difficulty speaking (dysarthria), and a drooping right eyelid (ptosis). Which cranial nerve is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Cranial nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal) and X (Vagus)

Answer

Cranial nerve VII (Facial)

Answer

Cranial nerve XII (Hypoglossal)

Answer

Cranial nerve III (Oculomotor)

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Increases heart rate

Answer

Promotes relaxation

Answer

Stimulates digestion

Answer

Constricts pupils

Question 26

A patient with a spinal cord injury at the level of T10 will experience loss of sensation and motor function below this level. What is the primary impact of this injury on the autonomic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The patient will experience loss of sympathetic innervation below the level of injury.

Answer

The patient will have an increase in sympathetic activity below the level of injury.

Answer

The autonomic nervous system will be unaffected by the spinal cord injury.

Question 27

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

Accepted Answer

Monosynaptic reflex

Answer

Polysynaptic reflex

Answer

Autonomic reflex

Answer

Conditioned reflex

Question 28

A patient with a severed sciatic nerve will experience which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Loss of sensation and motor function in the lower leg and foot

Answer

Loss of sensation in the face

Answer

Loss of motor function in the upper arm

Question 29

Which of the following neurotransmitters is primarily associated with the sympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

GABA

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Acetylcholine

Question 30

A patient presents with a loss of touch sensation on the right side of the face. Which of the following cranial nerves is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Cranial nerve V (Trigeminal)

Answer

Cranial nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)

Answer

Cranial nerve VIII (Vestibulocochlear)

Answer

Cranial nerve VII (Facial)

Question 31

The autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for controlling which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing

Answer

Voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Answer

Conscious sensory perception