Practice Quiz - Development of the Nervous System

  1. Neural crest cells differentiate into:
    postganglionic sympathetic cell bodies
    cells of the inferior mesenteric ganglion
    adrenal medullary cells
    cells of the enteric plexus
    all of the above are correct

  2. The ganglia of the autonomic nervous system are derived from:
    ectoderm
    endoderm
    both
    neither

  3. Of the following, the item most closely associated with the regulation of visceral and endocrine functions is:
    telencephalon
    diencephalon
    mesencephalon
    metencephalon
    myelencephalon

  4. Of the following, the item most closely associated with the pons is:
    telencephalon
    diencephalon
    mesencephalon
    metencephalon
    myelencephalon

  5. Of the following, the item most closely associated with visual reflexes is:
    telencephalon
    diencephalon
    mesencephalon
    metencephalon
    myelencephalon

  6. Of the following, the one most closely associated with the cerebrum is:
    telencephalon
    diencephalon
    mesencephalon
    metencephalon
    myelencephalon

  7. Of the following, the one most closely associated with the 3rd ventricle is:
    telencephalon
    diencephalon
    mesencephalon
    metencephalon
    myelencephalon

  8. Myelomeningocele is often associated with a caudal displacement of medulla and a portion of the cerebellum into the vertebral canal.
    true
    false

  9. The sympathetic nervous system is derived mostly from neural crest cells.
    true
    false

  10. Spina bifida occulta and encephalomeningocele result from a defect in neural tube closure.
    true
    false

  11. Microglial cells arise from gliablasts after the production of neuroblasts has ceased.
    true
    false

  12. Anencephaly is more frequent in females than males.
    true
    false

  13. During maturation of the nervous system:
    fiber tracts appear to become myelinated about the time they start to function
    all myelination of nerve fibers is by oligodendroglial cells
    the first reflexes appear in the caudal region
    there is no movement of the embryo/fetus until the 15th week

  14. Cerebrospinal fluid:
    is produced in choroid plexuses
    circulates in the ventricular system of the brain and in the subarachnoid spaces
    re-enters the venous blood at the arachnoid granulations
    blockage of its circulation can lead to internal or external hydrocephalus
    all of the above are correct

  15. In the development of the nervous system:
    there are five primary brain vesicles
    during the 5th week, each brain vesicle subdivides into 2 parts
    the pontine flexure is in a direction opposite the mesencephalic and cervical flexure
    neural epithelial cells are found in the marginal layer

  16. In the development of the nervous system:
    the sulcus limitans is found in the diencephalon
    the infundibulum is an outgrowth of the telencephalon that develops into the neurohypophysis
    sensory nuclei in the hindbrain lie ventral to the sulcus limitans
    the inner ear is derived from surface ectoderm

  17. In the development of the nervous system:
    the neural groove forms from the neural plate
    the neural folds are composed of neuroepithelial cells
    the neural tube maintains temporary contact with the amniotic cavity via neuropores
    neuroepithelial cells give rise to both neuroblasts and gliablasts
    all of the above are correct

  18. Identify the correct association(s):
    basal plate - sensory neurons
    mantle layer - neuroblasts
    marginal layer - gray matter
    alar plate - choroid plexus

  19. With respect to the nervous system, which of the following is NOT correct:
    a muscle's nerve supply can be used as an indicator of its level of origin and path of migration
    Rathke's pouch is an outgrowth of oral ectoderm that becomes the anterior lobe of the hypophysis
    the sulcus limitans marks the boundary between motor and sensory areas
    sensory nuclei in the hindbrain lie ventral to motor nuclei

  20. In the list below, which embryonic structures are correctly matched with the adult structure and function?
    mesencephalon - colliculi - visual and auditory reflexes
    metencephalon - medulla - reflex center
    telencephalon - thalamus - sensory relay and integration
    telencephalon - cerebellum - motor coordination

  21. Myelination:
    is accomplished by neurilemma or Schwann cells in peripheral nerves
    is accomplished by oligodendroglial cells within the spinal cord
    continues after birth
    is related to function
    all of the above are correct

  22. Hydrocephalus:
    exhibits decreased accumulation of CSF within the ventricles or between the brain and dura mater
    is accompanied by an excessive amount of amniotic fluid
    may be caused by an obstruction of the aqueduct of Sylvius
    may be caused by an absence of the choroid plexuses

  23. Spina bifida cystica and meningoencephalocele:
    are often caused by a failure of the neural tube to close
    have their inception during the fourth week of development
    always occur together in the affected individual
    have as their primary cause a defect in development of bone

  24. Meningoencephalocele:
    is due to the failure of the neural tube to close
    is often associated with displacement of medulla and some cerebellum into the vertebral canal
    most frequently is located in the cervical cord region
    is not related to hydrocephaly

  25. Anencephaly:
    is the result of failure of the cephalic part of the neural tube to form
    has its inception during the 5th week of development
    is seen more frequently in females than in males
    is accompanied by a deficiency in amniotic fluid

  26. Congenital absence of neural crest cells could result in:
    absence of sympathetic chain ganglia
    facial malformations
    absence of adrenal medulla
    absence of pigment cells
    all of the above are correct

  27. Which of the following is usually associated with anencephaly?
    macrocephalus
    hydrocephalus
    cranioschisis
    microcephalus
    conical cranium

  28. The metencephalon forms the:
    cerebellum
    medulla oblongata
    both
    neither

  29. The mesencephalon differentiates into the:
    cerebellum
    pons
    both
    neither

  30. The brain flexure which develops between the metencephalon and the myelencephalon is called the:
    pontine
    hindbrain
    cervical
    cephalic
    midbrain

  31. The lateral longitudinal groove in the inner surface of the developing spinal cord is the:
    neural groove
    cuneate groove
    sulcus limitans
    longitudinal groove
    transverse fold

  32. At birth, the caudal end of the spinal cord lies at which vertebral level?
    third sacral
    first sacral
    third lumbar
    first lumbar
    twelfth thoracic

  33. Which cranial nerve is the lowest numbered cranial nerve arising from the myelencephalon?
    olfactory nerve - CN I
    optic nerve - CN II
    oculomotor nerve - CN III
    trochlear nerve - CN IV
    trigeminal nerve - CN V
    abducens nerve - CN VI
    facial nerve - CN VII
    vestibulocochlear nerve - CN VIII
    glossopharyngeal nerve - CN IX
    vagus nerve - CN X
    accessory nerve - CN XI
    hypoglossal nerve - CN XII

  34. A 49 year-old female presents with 1 cm dark, irregular, slightly raised lesion on her forearm. She is often in the sun working in her garden, and she has noticed it growing bigger in the past few months. What is the embryonic origin of these malignant cells?
    lateral mesoderm
    3rd phalangeal pouch
    superficial mesoderm
    neural crest
    endoderm

  35. A 28 year-old G2P1 female patient comes in for a check up for the first time. Sonographic dating puts her roughly around 30 weeks. She states she hasn't been taking any prenatal vitamins or any supplements. On ultrasonography, it has also been identified that the fetus has anencephaly. What is the specific abnormality causing this condition?
    defective neural crest migration
    neural tube defect
    myogenic cell migration defect
    defective division of somites

  36. During the fusion of neural tube cranially and caudally, in which trimester would the defect in neural tube fusion cause anencephaly or spina bifida?
    first trimester
    second trimester
    third trimester

  37. Which of the following does NOT arise from the neural crest?
    spinal ganglia
    pigment cells
    suprarenal medulla
    skeletal and muscular components in the head
    sheaths of peripheral nerves
    all of the above arise from neural crest

  38. If you were to perform spinal lumbar puncture on a newborn baby, below which level would you target to avoid damaging spinal cord?
    L1
    L2
    L3
    L4
    L5

  39. If you were to perform a spinal lumbar puncture on an adult, below which vertebra level would you target to avoid damaging the spinal cord?
    L1
    L2
    L3
    L4
    L5

  40. From which embryonic layer does the dura mater arise?
    neural crest
    paraxial mesoderm
    lateral ectoderm
    endoderm

  41. After the fourth week of development, what marker can be detected in fetal circulation to diagnose neural tube defects?
    estrogen
    LDH
    albumin
    alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)
    hCG