MCQ Quiz

1. All of the following statements regarding the brainstem are correct EXCEPT:

It lies in the posterior cranial fossa

It contains nuclei of cranial nerves III–XII

It gives origin to cranial nerves I and II

It serves as a conduit for ascending and descending tracts

Explanation:
Cranial nerves I and II arise from the forebrain, not the brainstem.

2. All of the following correctly describe cerebellar peduncle connections EXCEPT:

Superior cerebellar peduncle connects midbrain to cerebellum

Middle cerebellar peduncle connects medulla to cerebellum

Inferior cerebellar peduncle connects medulla to cerebellum

Middle cerebellar peduncle arises from transverse pontine fibers

Explanation:
The middle cerebellar peduncle connects the pons, not the medulla, to the cerebellum.

3. Regarding the medulla oblongata, all are correct EXCEPT:

Its junction with the spinal cord is at the foramen magnum

Lower half contains continuation of the central canal

Upper half is related to the fourth ventricle

Hypoglossal nerve emerges from post-olivary sulcus

Explanation:
Hypoglossal nerve emerges from the pre-olivary sulcus, not post-olivary.

4. All of the following structures are related to the pre-olivary sulcus EXCEPT:

Roots of glossopharyngeal nerve

Hypoglossal nerve rootlets

Located between pyramid and olive

Situated on the anterior surface of the medulla

Explanation:
Glossopharyngeal nerve emerges from the post-olivary sulcus.

5. All of the following regarding the pyramids are true EXCEPT:

They contain corticospinal fibers

They are posterior to the olives

They taper inferiorly

They participate in motor decussation

Explanation:
Pyramids are anterior to the olives, not posterior.

6. The following cranial nerves emerge from the post-olivary sulcus EXCEPT:

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Vagus nerve

Hypoglossal nerve

Cranial part of accessory nerve

Explanation:
Hypoglossal nerve emerges from the pre-olivary sulcus.

7. All are components of the olivary nuclear complex EXCEPT:

Inferior olivary nucleus

Dorsal accessory nucleus

Medial accessory nucleus

Arcuate nucleus

Explanation:
Arcuate nuclei are separate and located on the anterior surface of pyramids.

8. All of the following nuclei lie in the central gray matter of the medulla EXCEPT:

Inferior olivary nucleus

Hypoglossal nucleus

Dorsal vagal nucleus

Nucleus of tractus solitarius

Explanation:
Inferior olivary nucleus is posterolateral to the pyramids, not in central gray matter.

9. All of the following regarding the medial lemniscus in the medulla are correct EXCEPT:

Formed after sensory decussation

Located posterior to the pyramids

Oriented transversely

Carries fine touch and proprioception

Explanation:
In the medulla, the medial lemniscus is oriented longitudinally, not transversely.

10. The great motor decussation occurs at:

Level of olives

Most caudal part of the medulla

Ponto-medullary junction

Upper medulla near fourth ventricle

Explanation:
The pyramidal (motor) decussation occurs at the caudal medulla near the spinal cord junction.

11. All of the following are features of the level of pyramid decussation EXCEPT:

Presence of central canal

Crossing of corticospinal fibers

Nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus

Formation of medial lemniscus

Explanation:
Medial lemniscus forms after sensory decussation, not at pyramid decussation.

12. All of the following statements regarding internal arcuate fibers are correct EXCEPT:

Arise from nucleus gracilis and cuneatus

Do not decussate

Contribute to medial lemniscus

Curve around central gray matter

Explanation:
Internal arcuate fibers decussate to form the medial lemniscus.

13. The great sensory decussation occurs at a level characterized by:

Internal arcuate fibers crossing midline

Decussation of corticospinal tract

Presence of inferior colliculus

Emergence of trigeminal nerve

Explanation:
Sensory decussation occurs via internal arcuate fibers forming the medial lemniscus.

14. All of the following are found at the level of the olives EXCEPT:

Inferior olivary nucleus

Nucleus ambiguus

Central canal

Fourth ventricle

Explanation:
At this level the central canal opens into the fourth ventricle.

15. Nucleus ambiguus is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:

Contains large motor neurons

Located within reticular formation

Fibers join CN IX, X, XI

Supplies intrinsic tongue muscles

Explanation:
Tongue muscles are supplied by the hypoglossal nerve, not nucleus ambiguus.

16. Hypoglossal nerve emerges from the medulla through:

Post-olivary sulcus

Pre-olivary sulcus

Ponto-medullary junction

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Explanation:
Hypoglossal nerve exits between pyramid and olive (pre-olivary sulcus).

17. All of the following are relations of the inferior cerebellar peduncle EXCEPT:

Anterior cochlear nucleus posterior to it

Spinal tract of trigeminal nerve anteromedial to it

Posterior cochlear nucleus posteromedial to it

Anterior spinocerebellar tract ventral to it

Explanation:
Anterior cochlear nucleus lies on the anterior aspect, not posterior.

18. All of the following statements about the pons are true EXCEPT:

Basilar groove lodges basilar artery

Middle cerebellar peduncle formed by transverse fibers

Trigeminal nerve emerges from posterior surface

Facial colliculus is seen on posterior surface

Explanation:
Trigeminal nerve emerges from the anterolateral surface.

19. Facial colliculus is formed by:

Facial nucleus itself

Facial nerve winding around abducens nucleus

Abducens nerve emerging fibers

Vestibular nucleus bulge

Explanation:
Facial nerve fibers loop around the abducens nucleus producing facial colliculus.

20. All of the following nuclei are related to sulcus limitans EXCEPT:

Vestibular nuclei

Locus coeruleus

Substantia ferruginea

Pontine nuclei

Explanation:
Pontine nuclei lie in the basilar part, not related to sulcus limitans.

21. Cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway includes all EXCEPT:

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Pontine nuclei

Transverse pontine fibers

Middle cerebellar peduncle

Explanation:
The pathway uses the middle cerebellar peduncle, not inferior.

22. All of the following describe trapezoid body EXCEPT:

Derived from cochlear nuclei

Located in anterior tegmentum

Part of corticospinal pathway

Consists of transverse fibers

Explanation:
Trapezoid body is auditory, not motor.

23. All are true regarding trochlear nerve EXCEPT:

Emerges from posterior brainstem

Does not decussate

Emerges below inferior colliculi

Winds around midbrain

Explanation:
Trochlear nerve decussates completely in superior medullary velum.

24. Red nucleus has all of the following features EXCEPT:

Located in tegmentum

Gives rise to rubrospinal tract

Highly vascular

Located posterior to cerebral aqueduct

Explanation:
Red nucleus lies anterior to the aqueduct, not posterior.

25. Decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles occurs:

At level of inferior colliculi

At pons

At level of olives

At spinal cord

Explanation:
Superior cerebellar peduncle decussates at inferior collicular level.

26. Oculomotor nerve fibers:

Emerge posteriorly

Bypass red nucleus

Pass through red nucleus

Exit via superior colliculus

Explanation:
Oculomotor fibers pass through red nucleus and emerge anteriorly.

27. Lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome spares:

Nucleus ambiguus

Pyramidal tract

Spinothalamic tract

Vestibular nuclei

Explanation:
Pyramids are medial and spared in lateral medullary syndrome.

28. Ipsilateral Horner syndrome in Wallenberg syndrome is due to damage of:

Vestibular nuclei

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

Spinothalamic tract

Descending sympathetic fibers

Explanation:
Descending hypothalamic sympathetic fibers are affected.

29. Medial medullary syndrome presents with all EXCEPT:

Ipsilateral loss of pain and temperature

Contralateral hemiplegia

Contralateral loss of proprioception

Ipsilateral tongue deviation

Explanation:
Pain and temperature loss is lateral, not medial.

30. Tongue deviation toward the side of lesion is due to damage of:

Nucleus ambiguus

Facial nucleus

Hypoglossal nerve

Vestibular nucleus

Explanation:
Hypoglossal nerve lesion causes ipsilateral tongue deviation.

31. Medial lemniscus carries:

Pain and temperature

Proprioception and fine touch

Motor fibers

Auditory impulses

Explanation:
Medial lemniscus transmits fine touch and proprioception.

32. The only cranial nerve emerging from posterior brainstem is:

Oculomotor

Abducens

Facial

Trochlear

Explanation:
Trochlear nerve uniquely exits posteriorly.

33. Substantia nigra is located between:

Crus cerebri and tegmentum

Tectum and aqueduct

Red nucleus and aqueduct

Crus cerebri and tectum

Explanation:
Substantia nigra separates crus cerebri from tegmentum.

34. Lateral lemniscus terminates in:

Superior colliculus

Medial geniculate body

Inferior colliculus

Red nucleus

Explanation:
Lateral lemniscus is part of auditory pathway ending in inferior colliculus.

35. The cavity of the midbrain is:

Fourth ventricle

Cerebral aqueduct

Central canal

Third ventricle

Explanation:
Midbrain cavity is the cerebral aqueduct.

36. Mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal nerve is:

Motor nucleus

Located in pons only

Inferior to spinal nucleus

Continuous inferiorly with principal sensory nucleus

Explanation:
It is continuous with principal sensory nucleus.

37. Vestibular symptoms in lateral medullary syndrome are due to damage of:

Vestibular nuclei

Inferior olive

Red nucleus

Hypoglossal nucleus

Explanation:
Vestibular nuclei damage causes vertigo and nystagmus.

38. Inferior cerebellar peduncle lesion causes:

Contralateral spastic paralysis

Ipsilateral facial paralysis

Ipsilateral limb ataxia

Loss of vibration sense

Explanation:
Cerebellar connections cause ipsilateral ataxia.

39. Medial medullary syndrome is also known as:

Wallenberg syndrome

Dejerine syndrome

Claude syndrome

Weber syndrome

Explanation:
Medial medullary syndrome = Dejerine syndrome.

40. All of the following arteries can cause medial medullary syndrome EXCEPT:

Vertebral artery

Anterior spinal artery

Basilar artery

Posterior inferior cerebellar artery

Explanation:
PICA causes lateral, not medial, medullary syndrome.

CNS: Anatomy# Brainstem

1. All of the following statements regarding the brainstem are correct EXCEPT:

2. All of the following correctly describe cerebellar peduncle connections EXCEPT:

3. Regarding the medulla oblongata, all are correct EXCEPT:

4. All of the following structures are related to the pre-olivary sulcus EXCEPT:

5. All of the following regarding the pyramids are true EXCEPT:

6. The following cranial nerves emerge from the post-olivary sulcus EXCEPT:

7. All are components of the olivary nuclear complex EXCEPT:

8. All of the following nuclei lie in the central gray matter of the medulla EXCEPT:

9. All of the following regarding the medial lemniscus in the medulla are correct EXCEPT:

10. The great motor decussation occurs at:

11. All of the following are features of the level of pyramid decussation EXCEPT:

12. All of the following statements regarding internal arcuate fibers are correct EXCEPT:

13. The great sensory decussation occurs at a level characterized by:

14. All of the following are found at the level of the olives EXCEPT:

15. Nucleus ambiguus is characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:

16. Hypoglossal nerve emerges from the medulla through:

17. All of the following are relations of the inferior cerebellar peduncle EXCEPT:

18. All of the following statements about the pons are true EXCEPT:

19. Facial colliculus is formed by:

20. All of the following nuclei are related to sulcus limitans EXCEPT:

21. Cortico-ponto-cerebellar pathway includes all EXCEPT:

22. All of the following describe trapezoid body EXCEPT:

23. All are true regarding trochlear nerve EXCEPT:

24. Red nucleus has all of the following features EXCEPT:

25. Decussation of superior cerebellar peduncles occurs:

26. Oculomotor nerve fibers:

27. Lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome spares:

28. Ipsilateral Horner syndrome in Wallenberg syndrome is due to damage of:

29. Medial medullary syndrome presents with all EXCEPT:

30. Tongue deviation toward the side of lesion is due to damage of:

31. Medial lemniscus carries:

32. The only cranial nerve emerging from posterior brainstem is:

33. Substantia nigra is located between:

34. Lateral lemniscus terminates in:

35. The cavity of the midbrain is:

36. Mesencephalic nucleus of trigeminal nerve is:

37. Vestibular symptoms in lateral medullary syndrome are due to damage of:

38. Inferior cerebellar peduncle lesion causes:

39. Medial medullary syndrome is also known as:

40. All of the following arteries can cause medial medullary syndrome EXCEPT: