Review Questions

Directions: Each of the nwnbered items in this section ls followed by answers. Select the ONE lettered
answer that ls CORRECT.

1. The following statements concern the basal nuclei (ganglla):

1. (a)  The caudate nucleus and the red nucleus form the neostriatum (striatum).
2. (b)  The head of the caudate nucleus is connected to the putamen.
3. (c)  The tegmentum of the midbrain forms part of the basal nuclei.
4. (d)  The internal capsule lies lateral to the globus pallldus.
5. (e)  The basal nuclei are formed of white matter.

2. The following statements concern the basal nuclei

(ganglia):

1. (a)  The amygdaloid nucleus is connected to the

caudate nucleus.

2. (b)  The lentiform nucleus Is completely divided by

the external capsule Into the globus pallldus

and the putamen.

3. (c)  The claustrum does not form part of the basal

nuclei.

4. (d)  The corpus striatum lies medial to the thalamus.

5. (e)  The function of the claustrum is well known.

3. The following statements concern the basal nuclei (ganglia):

1. (a)  The corpus strlatum is made up of the caudate nucleus and the amygdaloid nucleus.
2. (b)  The head of the caudate nucleus lies lateral to the internal capsule.
3. (c)  The insula forms part of the basal nuclei.
4. (d)  The tail of the caudate nucleus lies in the roof

of the lateral ventricle.

5. (e)  The subthalamic nuclei are functionally closely

related to the basal nuclei and are considered

 tobepartofthem.

4. The following statements concern the caudate nucleus:

(a) It is divided into a head, neck, trunk. and tail. (b) It Is an M-shaped mass of gray matter.

3.

Involuntary movements. Atrophy of the caudate nucleus and putamen occurs.

The clinical sign ls known as hemlballismus. The sudden onset Is usually caused by vascular impair-
ment due to hemorrhage or occlusion. Yes, hemibal- Usmus does involve the basal nuclei; it is the result
of destruction of the contralateral subthalamic nucleus or its neuronal connections, causing the violent,
uncoordinated movements of the axial and proximal limb muscles.

5.

(c) The body of the caudate nucleus forms part of the roof of the body of the lateral ventricle.

4. (d)  The head lies medial to the anterior horn of the

lateral ventricle.

5. (e)  The tall terminates anteriorly in the amygdaloid

nucleus.

The following statements concern the afferent cor- ticostriate fibers to the corpus striatum:

1. (a)  Each part of the cerebral cortex is randomly pro-

jected to different parts of the corpus striatum.

2. (b)  Glutamate is not the neurotransmitter.

3. (c)  All parts of the cerebral cortex send fibers to

the caudate nucleus and putamen.

4. (d)  The smallest input is from the sensory motor

part of the cerebral cortex.

5. (e)  Most of the projections are from the cortex of

the opposite side.

The following statements concern the nlgrostriatal fibers:

1. (a)  The neurons In the substantia nlgra send axons

 to the putamen.

2. (b)  Acetylchollne ls the neurotransmitter.

3. (c)  The nigrostrlatal fibers are stimulatory in function.
4. (d)  The caudate nucleus does not receive axons from

the substantia nigra.

5. (e)  Parkinson disease is caused by an increase in

the release of dopamine within the corpus stri-

atwn.

The following statements concern the efferent fibers of the corpus strtatwn:

1. (a)  Many of the efferent fibers descend directly to

the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves.

2. (b)  Some of the strlatopallidal fibers have GABA as

the neurotransmitter.

3. (c)  The striatonigral fibers pass from the red

nucleus to the substantla nigra.

4. (d)  Many of the efferent fibers pass directly to the

cerebellum.

5. (e)  The anterior horn cells of the spinal cord are

influenced directly by the efferent fibers from the corpus striatum.

6.

7.
8. The following statements concern the functions of the basal nuclei (ganglia):
 1. (a)  The corpus striatum integrates information

received directly from the cerebellar cortex.

2. (b)  The outflow of the basal nuclei is channeled through the globus pallidus to the sensory areas
of the cerebral cortex, thus influencing muscu-

lar activities.

3. (c)  The globus pallidus only influences the move-

ments of the axial part of the body.

4. (d)  Theactivitiesoftheglobuspallidusprecedethe activities of the motor cortex concerned with

discrete movements of the hands and feet.

5. (e)  Theactivitiesofthebasalnucleiaresuppressed by information received from the sensory cor-

tex, the thalamus, and the brainstem.

Matching Questions. Directions: The following questions apply to Figure 10-10. Match the numbers listed
below on the left with the appropriate lettered structure listed on the right. Each lettered option may be
selected once, more than once, or not at all.

9. Number 1 10. Number2 11. Number 3 12. Number4 13. Number 5 14. Number6

(a) Anterior horn of lateral ventricle (b) Internal capsule

(c) Claustrum
(d) Putamen

(e) External capsule

(f) Globus pallidus (g) None of the above

Figure 10-10

Horizontal section of the cerebrum.

f) Answers and Explanations to Review Questions

1. B Is correct. The head of the caudate nucleus is connected to the putamen of the lentlform nucleus
(see Fig. 10-1). A. The caudate nucleus and the putamen form the neostriatum. C. The tegmen-
tum of the mldbrain does not form part of the basal nuclei. D. The Internal capsule lies medial to
the apex of the globus pallidus (see Fig. 10-2). E. The basal nuclei are formed of gray matter.
 2. A is correct. The amygdaloid nucleus Is connected to the caudate nucleus (see Fig. 10-1). B. The
lentiform nucleus is not divided by the external capsule into the globus pallidus and the putamen
(see Fig. l(}..2). C. The claustrum forms part of the basal nuclei. D. The corpus strlatum lies lateral
to the thalamus (see Fig. 10-2). E. The function of the claustrum is unknown.
3. D is correct. The tail of the caudate nucleus lies In the roof of the lateral ventricle (see Fig. 10-2).
A. The corpus strlatum Is made up of the caudate nucleus and the lentiform nucleus. B. The head
of the caudate nucleus lies medial to the internal cap- sule (see Fig. 10-2). C. The insula does not
form part of the basal nuclei. E. The subthalamlc nuclei are functionally closely related to the
basal nuclei but are not considered to be part of them.

4. E is correct. The tall of the caudate nucleus ter- minates anteriorly in the amygdalold nucleus (see Fig.
10-1). A. The caudate nucleus is divided into the head, body, and tail (see Fig. IO-I). B. The cau- date
nucleus is a C-shaped mass of gray matter (see Fig.10-1).C.Thebodyofthecaudatenucleusforms part of the
floor of the body of the lateral ventricle (see Fig. 10-1). D. The head of the caudate nucleus lies lateral to
the anterior horn of the lateral ventri- cle (see Fig. 10-2).

5. C is correct. All parts of the cerebral cortex send fibers to the caudate nucleus and putamen. A. Each part
of the cerebral cortex Is projected to specific parts of the corpus strlatum. B. Glutamate ls the
neurotransmitter at the nerve endings of the corti- costriate fibers to the corpus striatum (see Fig. 104). D.
The largest input to the different parts of the cor- pus strlatum is from the sensory motor part of the
cerebral cortex. E. Most of the projection fibers are from the cerebral cortex of the same side.

6. A is correct. The neurons in the substantia nigra send axons to the putamen (see Fig. 10-3). B. Dopa-
mineistheneurotransmitteratthenerveendingsof the nigrostriatal fibers. C. The nigrostriatal fibers are
inhibitory in function. D. The caudate nucleus

Answers and Explanations to Review Questions 321

3
322
CHAPTER 10 Basal Nuclei (Basal Ganglia)

7.

8.

does receive axons from the substantia nigra. E. Parkinson disease is caused by a reduction in the release of
dopamine within the corpus striatum.
B is correct. Some of the striatopallidal fibers have GABA as the neurotransmitter. A. None of the efferent fibers
from the corpus striatum descend directly to the motor nuclei of the cranial nerves. C. The striatonigral fibers pass
from the caudate nucleus to the substantia nigra (see Fig. 10-3). D. No efferent fibers from the corpus striatum pass
directly to the cerebellum. E. The anterior horn cells of the spinal cord are not influenced directly by the efferent
fibers from the corpus striatum. Dis correct. The activities of the globus pallidus pre- cede the activities of the motor
cerebral cortex con- cerned with discrete movements of the hands and feet. A. The corpus striatum does not
integrate infor- mation received directly from the cerebellar cortex.

B. The outflow of the basal nuclei is channeled through the globus pallidus to the motor areas of the cerebral cortex,
thus influencing muscular activities. C. The globus pallidus influences movements of the entire body. E. The
activities of the basal nuclei are initiated by information received from the sensory cortex, the thalamus, and the
brainstem.

The answers for Figure 10-10, which shows a horizontal section of the cerebrum, are as follows:

9. Fis correct. Structure 1 is the globus pallidus.

10. B is correct. Structure 2 is the internal capsule.
11. Dis correct. Structure 3 is the putamen.
12. Eis correct. Structure 4 is the external capsule.
13. C is correct. Structure 5 is the claustrum.
14. A is correct. Structure 6 is the anterior horn of the

lateral ventricle.